Mahmood welcomes BCCI invite for Pakistan team

Islamabad -  Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has welcomed the BCCI's decision to invite a team from Pakistan for the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20).

He said it is now time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take positive steps to help resume bilateral cricket ties between the two countries, reports the Daily Times.

"It is a very good step by the BCCI. Now PCB needs to take a step forward and join hands with India," Mahmood was quoted as saying.

The BCCI, during its working committee meeting last week, cleared the decks for the inclusion of Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions in this year's CLT20 for the first  time since the event's inception.

Mahmood has played a key role in turning the fortunes of the Punjab outfit, which is currently in seventh spot in the standings with 14 points from 13 games, but are very much in with a  chance of advancing to the play-offs.

"We can definitely reach the semi-finals. We are playing good cricket. We have 14 points now and two more wins will see us through to the play-offs," he said.

A tough battle awaits Kings XI Punjab in their next match as they take on table toppers Delhi Daredevils at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground on Tuesday. But Mahmood said his side had enough  firepower to upstage Delhi in their own backyard.

"No doubt Virender Sehwag and David Warner are two of the best players in ODIs and Twenty20 cricket. But if they are in form, we also are in form," he said.