Date:18/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111861221900.htm

Sport - Cricket

PCB keeps its options open

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has kept its options open if the Indian cricket team doesn’t get clearance from its government to tour in January because of security concerns.

India is scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals during its scheduled tour to Pakistan from January 4 to February 19, 2009.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt said on Monday that one of the options is the cricket boards could switch their home series. Pakistan is scheduled to tour India in 2010 under the International Cricket Council’s future test program.

“If the Indian cricket team’s tour (to Pakistan) is not cleared by its government we can look at swapping the series with India,” Butt said. “(But) we want India to tour Pakistan because we have already suffered a lot this year.”

Earlier this month, the Indian government failed to give clearance to its junior hockey team to play five tests in Pakistan due to security concerns.