Sport - Cricket

PCB fails to release itinerary

Karachi: On the backdrop of recent terrorist attack in Islamabad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in dilemma about whether India would like to stick to the itinerary approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), during its tour to Pakistan early next year.

The PCB on Monday failed to release the itinerary for the series with apparent doubts over having matches in Rawalpindi.

“We dont know when we will be able to release the itinerary,” a PCB official said.

The PCB had announced a few days ago it would probably release the itinerary of the tour on Monday after it was approved by the BCCI, with a Test match and one-dayer scheduled at the renovated stadium in Rawalpindi.

“There is no doubt that after the spate of bomb attacks in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which have close proximity to the North-West Frontier Province, the Indians might want to reconsider their options over the venues,” a source said.

The PCB, in the itinerary sent to the BCCI, has named Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad as the venues for the tour, which is scheduled to start on January 4, 2009.

Earlier, Rawalpindi was also dropped as a venue for the Champions Trophy, which was incidentally postponed later, because of security concern raised by some countries, including Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. — PTI

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