The Indian cricket board will ask the government to allow bilateral matches with Pakistan in neutral venues, a cricket official said on Tuesday.

"We will soon request Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to consider allowing matches against Pakistan in neutral venues," Rajiv Shukla, a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India member told Reuters.

The government banned all bilateral matches between the two sides in 2000 because of tensions between the two countries.

However, it has not opposed meetings in multi-country events in neutral venues and the two countries played each other for the first time in almost three years at the World Cup in South Africa in March. India won by six wickets.

The government rejected a BCCI request in March to resume bilateral matches with Pakistan after the board said the team would otherwise be isolated from world cricket.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya is expected to discuss the issue with his Pakistan counterpart Tauqir Zia next week in Dubai during an Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) meeting.

"We will be happy if the government allows us to play at least in neutral venues," said BCCI secretary Karunakaran Nair. "We want to somehow resume bilateral cricket."

Nair said senior BCCI members would discuss the issue by the end of May.

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 10 Sub: No justification in playing with Pakistan If the Govt. allows to play in neutral venues with Pakistan then it means playing in Sharjah where India will be humiliated. Both the boards ... Posted by ROMI Sub: RE:Just stop the repetitive requests You are very nieve and seem to think that every thing is black and white. Pakistan are not the only ones to blame in the ... Posted by Put Jutta Da Sub: Government is right I believe there should be no question of playing with terrorists or people who support terrorism. The government is absolutely right in this regard and ... Posted by Kalyan Sub: Just stop the repetitive requests BCCI should stop the repetitive attacks on the Govt's decission. NO GAME means NO GAME. I dont really think , any explanation makes the games ... Posted by Sujat Syed Sub: Is BBCI ant-national. The cricket board should be designated antinational and dibanded for constantly pushing the government for permission to play Pakistan. If they are so fond of ... Posted by samkum9