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India and Pakistan could play a series of one-day matches against each other throughout Europe in 2007.

English cricket chief David Collier told a website on Saturday that five matches are likely to be played between the arch rivals, two in England and three at other European venues.

“We’ve had some discussions. It’s more likely that it will be considered in 2007. We’ve got a number of broadcasting issues we need to look at, but clearly an India-Pakistan one-day series has some great attractions,” said Collier.

Lalit Modi, of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that Lord’s had already agreed to host a match, pending ECB approval. The India and Pakistan boards want to stage more games in countries where there are large expatriate populations, and they have already arranged two games to be played in the new stadium in Abu Dhabi on 18 and 19 April.

Seventy-five per cent of the proceeds from the game in Abu Dhabi will go to the Pakistan earthquake relief fund, with the remaining 25% given to those affected by the disaster in Indian administered Kashmir. The BCCI was in 2004, the driving force behind a three-team series in Amsterdam, also including Pakistan and Australia.

Collier also confirmed that ECB is bidding for Twenty20 World Championship events in 2009 and 2013 as well as the 2015 World Cup in the 50-over format.

“I think the most likely is 2009 at the moment,” he said.

“England has got the experience of Twenty20 finals day, where we have got three matches in a day. I think the ICC are looking to us for our experience in that type of format and it would be wonderful if we get a major global cricket event in the UK,” he added.

Source: The News