da bet sport： Pakistan are considering inviting India for a quickfire series of ODIs in case Australia pull out of their scheduled tour
Cricinfo staff15-Feb-2008
The Indian team may well be playing an ODI series in Pakistan in case Australia don’t tour in March-April © AFP
Pakistan are considering inviting India for a quickfire series of ODIs if, asis becoming increasingly likely, Australia pull out of their scheduled tour inMarch-April.Doubts about whether Australia will come for their first tour in nearly a decadehave increased day-by-day over the last week, the latest coming from Ricky Ponting,the Australian captain.The Pakistan board has all along insisted its priority is to get Australia to cometo visit, but has privately admitted they are working on alternative options, whichinclude inviting another country over.And a well-placed source revealed to Cricinfo that informal talks had been held withthe BCCI about a series of ODIs in Pakistan in case Australia don’t come.”There have been informal discussions with the BCCI but nothing has been firmed up.Things will become clearer in a day or so,” the source said. “The first priority is still to getAustralia to come over but if they don’t come, options have to be and are beingexamined.”Two PCB officials, including the chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi arecurrently touring India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for bilateral board talksregarding scheduling ahead of an ICC meeting to devise the Future Tours Programme(FTP) till 2013. The ostensible purpose of the mission is to fill the gaps inPakistan’s schedule in the current FTP.The current Pakistan administration is said to be unhappy over their predecessor’swork on the last FTP, which has left Pakistan with a number of gaps in theircricketing calendar. “Pakistan played half the number of Tests that Australia didaccording to that FTP and that is something that needs to be rectified,” the source said. But as a result of Australia’s hesitancy, the trip has become an opportunityfor Pakistan to try and arrange an alternative contest with countries who are freein March-April.Both boards, however, are officially denying the development. India, as ever, ishemmed in by a hectic schedule. Between their return from Australia and the firstTest against South Africa, an ODI series, even just across the border, seemsunlikely. “It’s not possible,” a senior BCCI official told Cricinfo. “The Indian teamreturns from Australia on March 8 and the first Test against South Africa starts inChennai on March 26. Where is the time?”Ahsan Malik, the PCB spokesman, explained the board’s focus was on gettingAustralia over. “This is an official trip with regards to the FTP till 2013. Theywanted to meet boards and have a pre-scheduling round of meetings with them. Ourfull concentration is on playing Australia.”