The International Cricket Council has confirmed that India and Pakistan are set to play a bilateral series in December 2015. This will be the first of six series scheduled between the two countries during the eight-year future tours programme cycle from 2015 to 2023.

According to the provisional FTP cycle, India and Pakistan are scheduled to play 12 Tests, 30 ODIs and 11 Twenty20s spread over six series. The first of these, likely to be a home series for Pakistan, could be played in the UAE and is expected to comprise two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s.

"There has been a proposal to resume bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan. As I understand, there has been an agreement that the two teams will play each other soon," ICC chairman N Srinivasan told the Times of India.

Even though the BCCI has agreed to host Pakistan twice during the period, ESPNcricinfo understands that due to the sensitive political relationship between the neighbouring countries, the Indian board has added a clause in the MoU that all the six series will be played "subject to government clearance". The FTP is likely to be converted into a binding agreement on the sidelines of the next ICC board meeting in October.

The last bilateral series between the two countries was played in December 2012 and January 2013 when Pakistan toured India for three ODIs and two T20s. Bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries were snapped after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 until the series in 2012-13, although India and Pakistan have played each other in the World Cup, Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and the World T20.