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Afridi calls for end of India tour

Fan favourite calls for PCB to focus energy on attracting other teams to tour Pakistan than renewing rivalry with India

Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi said he wants his country's cricket board to stop pushing for a series against India and concentrate more on persuading other teams to tour Pakistan.

Speaking in Lahore, Afridi said the Pakistan Cricket Board should be focused on bringing other teams to the country in the wake of Zimbabwe's successful one-day series in May.

The visit by the Zimbabwe team for three one-day and two Twenty20 internationals was the first tour by an international cricket team since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.

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Hafeez hits out during Zimbabwe's visit in May // Getty

"I don't know why we are pushing for a series against India again and again," Afridi said.

"I don't see any reason to play (against India) if they don't want to play."

The Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for the green light from its Indian counterpart for December's planned Test and limited-overs series in the United Arab Emirates.

Both countries' cricket boards have signed an agreement to play at least six times in between 2015-2023, but the India board needs its government's approval to revive cricketing ties with Pakistan.

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Misbah slams a six at the World Cup in front of Dhoni // Getty

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya was in intensive care after being taken to a hospital in Kolkata with chest pains, medical officials said.

The 75-year-old BCCI chief was treated for clotted arteries after undergoing a coronary angiography on Thursday night at the city's BM Birla Heart Research Centre, the hospital said in a statement.

"Clot was aspirated out to establish good flow in coronary arteries," said the statement, adding he was being closely monitored in a critical care unit.

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BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya // Getty

Since his return as BCCI president earlier this year, Dalmiya has been dogged by health problems which have led to regular absences from key meetings of the board which is based in Mumbai.

Dalmiya had two earlier stints as BCCI president and is also a former head of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

During his previous terms in office, Dalmiya oversaw India's emergence as the game's financial powerhouse as he negotiated mega-television contracts.