KARACHI: Pakistan yesterday welcomed India's invitation to compete in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament this year, saying it could lead to a "revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which met earlier in the day in Chennai, approved Pakistan's participation in the tournament which features leading domestic Twenty20 teams from around the world.

"We feel it's a significant and positive development," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmed, told AFP.

"We had been in touch with the BCCI over the participation of a Pakistan team and hope that this step could lead to a revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties."

The news was also welcomed by Shoaib Malik, captain of Pakistan's Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions, who told AFP: "It's great news and I am happy to hear this."

"We eat the same food and wear same clothes and when we play cricket people of both countries come closer," he said.