Sri Lanka wants new itinerary, lesser matches in Pakistan
Posted on: December 30, 2008
Cricket authorities have a fresh problem to deal with after Sri Lanka asked for a changed itinerary with lesser matches for their forthcoming tour of Pakistan. A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official revealed that Sri Lanka had informed PCB that they would like to tour the country from February 15 for a series featuring two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 match.
Incidentally, the Sri Lankans had earlier agreed to play three Tests and five one-day internationals from January 20. “The situation is tricky now, because if we go by Sri Lanka’s revised itinerary then this series clashes with our confirmed tour of Bangladesh scheduled from March 3,”.
Pakistan had invited Sri Lanka to play the series after India cancelled their scheduled Future Tours Programme tour following the Mumbai terror attacks. PCB chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said he would be speaking to the Bangladesh Cricket Board to change dates for the series against Pakistan.
“We would now have to tour Bangladesh from mid-March, instead of March 3, if we are to host the Sri Lankans. I am hopeful the Bangladesh board will cooperate with us but it all depends on their FTP commitments,” Altaf said. Doubts lingered over Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan as the Arjuna Ranatunga-led interim committee, which had okayed the series, was sacked last week.
The Sri Lankans, however, decided to go ahead with the tour after getting security clearance from their foreign ministry. Altaf said the series against Sri Lankan was important in many ways since Pakistan had not played a Test in 2008 and was short of organising international series at home.
Pakistan is also due to host Australia from April 23 for five one-day internationals but Altaf said that it had been agreed in principle that the series could be moved to a neutral venue if the Australians are not given security clearance by their government to play in Pakistan.
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