Pakistan invited to play in Australia

Australia have invited Pakistan to play a three-match limited-overs series at the end of June, Pakistan officials said on Tuesday.

"The Pakistan cricket board has received this proposal from the Australians and our team has agreed to play the matches in Australia," Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed told a news conference.

"It is basically, I think, the Australian cricket board's way of giving us a helping hand in view of the lack of international cricket that has faced our team since last July," said Saeed.

Pakistan have played just one Test and five one-day internationals since July 2001, after facing cancellations of tours by India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka since the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington and the start of the conflict in Afghanistan.

There are also doubts over a planned tour by the West Indies from January 25, following an escalation of border tensions with India in the last few days.

Saeed said the Australian Cricket Board had yet to finalise the programme for the June-July tournament but had hinted that the matches would be held indoors as was done two years ago when South Africa played a three-match one-day series at the Colonial stadium in Melbourne.

"This series should help our boys prepare for next year's World Cup and also make up somewhat for the loss of international cricket they have faced in the last six months," he added.

Also read:
- West Indies pull out of Pakistan tour

Mail Cricket Editor