Islamabad, Jul 19 (IANS): President Asif Ali Zardari has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing the hope that the resumption of cricketing ties after five years will be a confidence building measure.

Zardari Wednesday sent the letter to Manmohan Singh welcoming resumption of cricket relations, reported Dawn.

The Indian cricket board Monday invited Pakistan to play three One-dayers and two Twenty20 Internationals in December-January, a move that would see the arch-rivals clashing in a bilateral series after a five-year gap

The resumption of cricket matches would add to positive atmosphere witnessed by the two countries, said Zardari.

The letter said: "You would recall that in my recent visit to India, we discussed resumption of cricket ties between Pakistan and India. I am glad to learn that the cricket boards of Pakistan and India have agreed to resume cricket matches after a gap of five years."

"I am sanguine that cricket matches between our two countries would prove to be a formidable confidence building measure and a way forward towards encouraging people-to-people contacts," it added.