India-Pakistan series if it is beneficial. said Dhoni

Gurgaon, India's cricket skipper Dhoni Thursday said Team India was open to play against arch-rivals Pakistan if the 2 boards agree to have a bilateral series in India.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf, who was invited to watch the IPL last between the Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, had fruitful talks with Board of Control for Cricket in India officials to revive cricket ties between the 2countries.

An elated Dhoni said India-Pakistan series at home would be the best thing to have. India has suspended two-sided sporting ties with Pakistan since the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai by Pakistani national.

We are open for it. But according to schedule, I don't know where it will fit," said Dhoni, on the sidelines of the investiture of his chain of gyms, sports instruction fit.Dhoni also paid rich tributes to Indian chess legend Vishwanathan Anand, who Wednesday wins the world title for the 5th time in Moscow. Dhoni said Anand was an idol for all sportsperson.

Anand is an inspiration for all sportsperson. I had a rare chance to meet him once and found he was very humble and down to earth. What he has done recently is simply inconceivable. And what he has been doing consistently is marvelous, said Dhoni.

Dhoni was also taken aback when he hears the news of retirement of England batsman and former captain Kevin Pietersen from ODIs and Twenty20.

I am surprised with his decision. He has been a great cricketer in both the formats of the game. We have all enjoy his batting and he had a great impact in this year's IPL as well. He will be honestly missed in these years World Twenty20. It is good that he will carry on playing in Test cricket and I wish him luck in his future, said Dhoni.

The India captain Dhoni also said that he wants to make the best use of the one-and-half month's break from international cricket.

The break is very important for me. But there is lot of prior commitments. I have to do some work with the 'Territorial Army' and 'Save the Tiger' movement. We have been playing without a break for the last 4 years and now with any luck I can spend some excellence time with my family. I may even go for a vacation," he said.