KARACHI (Reuters) – Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will play six bilateral series in cricket’s future tours programme after N. Srinivasan was elected chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.

Pakistan did not oppose the election of India’s Srinivasan and has been rewarded with a six-series agreement between 2015 and 2023

“After N. Srinivasan’s election as the first ICC chairman in a landslide, India has officially turned the MOUs (memorandum of understanding) signed earlier this year with regard to six rubbers between the two nations into binding agreements straightaway,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Thursday.

“Four of these series will be hosted by the PCB in the United Arab Emirates or Pakistan with mutual consent. The six tours are now part of the Future Tours Program and are to be played from 2015 to 2023.”

The Asian nations have not played each other in a full test programme since 2007, although India hosted Pakistan in a hastily arranged limited-overs series in 2013.

The PCB had initially opposed constitutional changes and a new financial model backed by India, Australia and England, but later offered ‘conditional’ support in return for concessions.

The PCB also said it had been granted the fourth rank after India, Australia and England in terms of the percentage of revenue to be received from the ICC over the next eight years from broadcasting and other rights.

“The third big recognition is, the ICC confirming Pakistan to get the position of the global body’s president for one year with effect from June 2015,” the statement added.

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Karachi: Jun 27, 2014

Pakistan cricket legend Shahid Afridi said on Friday he is planning a Twenty20 match to raise money for almost half a million people displaced by a military operation in the country’s northwest. More than 470,000 have fled the offensive against strongholds of the Taliban and other militants in North Waziristan tribal area on the Afghan border.

Aid efforts have been stepped up to cope with the exodus and Afridi, who was born in Pakistan’s tribal areas, said he wanted to help. “I am in talks with the authorities and will soon announce a Twenty20 match in Lahore to raise funds,” the big-hitting all-rounder told reporters.

The 34-year-old was speaking at the launch of his charity foundation which will focus on mothers and internal refugees. Afridi said the foundation had set up a 16-bed maternity hospital in remote Tangi Banda village in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

“I want to return to my country what it has given me and with an aim to serve my people,” he said.

The $160,000 hospital named after Afridi’s father Fazlur Rehman was paid for by the star, who said he had been inspired by former captain Imran Khan.

“Imran set an example for all of us,” said Afridi. Imran runs a cancer hospital in Lahore through charity.

Afridi said his foundation would also work on education and sports to turn youngsters away from the path of extremism.

“The youth in remote areas have no education and so whoever wants to change their mind for their motives can use them for suicide bombings and other negative work,” said Afridi. “If we educate them then they can be more helpful for the country.”

Afridi, who has played 378 One-Day Internationals and 74 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan, said he would spare more time for his foundation after the ICC World Cup 2015.

He retired from Tests in 2010 after playing 27 matches.