Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has hinted at asking India to host a limited-overs series between Pakistan and Australia later this year. Pakistan are seeking a venue for the series after Sri Lanka's refusal to stage it.

India will open their campaign in the 2012 Olympics hockey competition in London with a game against the Netherlands July 30, according to the schedule released by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) on Tuesday.

In a friendly move, the India Cricket Board (BCCI) has invited PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf to watch the final of the ongoing Indian Premier League on May 27 in Chennai.

Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando have been named in the 30-man provisional squad for the upcoming tours by Pakistan and India. The squad has no new faces.

Even as Dharamshala is getting ready for the Indian Premier League matches on May 17 and 19 when Kings XI Punjab will take on Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils, respectively, it is looking forward to hosting its first international ODI match early next year.

Indian men's hockey team ended its London tour without a win as they lost the bronze medal match 1-2 to Great Britain in the four-nation test event ahead of the upcoming London Olympics, here on Sunday.

Indian women created history by winning their maiden title as they beat Hong Kong 2-0 in the final of the Asian Team Squash championship in Kuwait on Saturday. India, however, went down 0-2 to Pakistan in the men's final.

Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood feels that cricket could help normalise the relations between India and Pakistan, saying the game has no boundaries.

Born almost a year after the Indian cricket team lifted the 1983 World Cup, Ireland allrounder Kevin O'Brien said it was Kapil Dev whom he had always looked up to as a budding cricketer.

The Indian men's hockey team suffered a second straight defeat, losing 2-4 to hosts Great Britain in the test event for the London Olympic Qualifiers in London.