The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Islamabad

Rawalpindi will host its first cricket test in more than four years when India tours Pakistan in January.

India will play Pakistan in the second test and third limited-overs match of the series at Rawalpindi, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board's tour itinerary released Tuesday.

India played Pakistan the last time Rawalpindi hosted a test match in April 2004.

Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at Rawalpindi in December, and the city has been the scene of several violent incidents in past years. The city is also located near the federal capital Islamabad where at least 53 people died after a powerful blast at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday.

"As of now Rawalpindi is the venue," PCB spokesman Mansoor Suhail said, adding that the schedule was finalized before the Marriott blast.

The Indian team arrives in Pakistan on Jan. 4 and is scheduled to play a three-day warm-up match at Hyderabad before the first test at Karachi. Lahore will host the third and final test starting Jan. 29.

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was extensively renovated for the Champions Trophy before being excluded as one of the limited-overs tournament's three venues. The Champions Trophy was eventually postponed for a year due to security concerns held by the participating teams.

Schedule:

Jan. 6-8: Three-day match at Hyderabad

Jan. 13-17: First test at Karachi

Jan. 21-25: Second test at Rawalpindi

Jan. 29-Feb 2: Third test at Lahore

Feb. 6: First one-day international at Faisalabad

Feb. 8: Second one-day international at Lahore

Feb. 11: Third one-day international at Rawalpindi

Feb. 14: Fourth one-day international at Multan

Feb. 17: Fifth one-day international at Karachi

Feb. 19: Twenty20 international at Karachi.