'No decision on cricket resumption'

India's foreign secretary Nirupama Rao has said that no decision has been taken on the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan, ending for the moment speculation that had grown after last month's World Cup semifinal in Mohali between the two national teams.
India had suspended sporting ties with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, but relations have thawed since then and the World Cup match was attended by the prime ministers of both nations. At the time Rao -- the senior most bureaucrat in the foreign ministry -- had said the Indian government welcomed more sporting contact between the two countries but on Thursday she clarified, via a social networking site, that "no such decision" had been taken.
"Have been asked about resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan," Rao said on Twitter. "Want to clarify no such decision, although sporting contacts may be encouraged." Rao further added: "Sporting contacts btw [between] India and Pakistan, bar [barring] cricket, have been taking place. This can be encouraged further. Hope I am clear."