Decide on tour by September-end, says PCB chief

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Gen Tauqir Zia will ask his Indian counterpart A C Muthiah to decide by September-end either way on the Indian team's proposed full tour to Pakistan later this year, when the two meet in Dubai this week.

Zia and Muthiah are expected to have discussions on the proposed Test and one-day international series between the two countries in Pakistan in December-January when they attend the Asian Cricket Foundation meeting in Dubai, according to reports.

"Our feeling is that the Indians should let us know by September 30 if they are going to tour or not. We can't keep waiting for them to confirm something until the end of this year," Zia said on Monday, before leaving for Dubai.

BCCI president Muthiah has already left for Dubai to attend the ACF meeting.

Incidentally, the BCCI's AGM is scheduled for September 29 and 30 at Madras and, in all likelihood, a decision on the proposed visit to Pakistan will be taken there.

Zia said the PCB would like to know well in advance about the fate of India's scheduled visit to Pakistan so that it can plan an alternative arrangement if it is cancelled.

He also said, "We are well aware that the Indian board has to take clearance from the government to play Pakistan. I can understand that problem. But the fact is we also want a cut-off date to be set for the Indians to confirm the tour.

"If by the deadline they don't confirm the tour, we can work on other possible options, like inviting a World XI or playing Bangladesh at home or in their country to replace India's tour."

The PCB chief said he is hopeful the tour will materialise since he is getting assurances from "certain quarters", the reports said.

India have not undertaken a tour of Pakistan, to play a Test series since 1989, when K Srikkanth led the team to the neighbouring country.

Mail Cricket Editor