PCB expects tri-series in SA

2008-08-28 14:40

Pakistan - The Pakistan Cricket Board expects to play a triangular one-day series in South Africa next month, filling the hole in the schedule created by the late postponement of the Champions Trophy.

Sri Lanka was expected to be the third team in the hastily arranged tournament.

"Yes, we are in constant touch with both Sri Lanka and South Africa and the chances are that the triangular series will be played next month," PCB spokesperson Mansoor Suhail said on Thursday.

The tentative dates of the triangular series is Sept. 12-28. Pakistan was supposed to host the eight-nation Champions Trophy during the same period, but the International Cricket Council had to postpone the event on Sunday after four nations - Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand - expressed strong reservations about security in Pakistan.

South Africa pre-empted the ICC decision by announcing days earlier that it would not tour Pakistan. The Champions Trophy was postponed until 20009, with no dates set.

"We wanted to fill the gap and that's why we have made some serious efforts to have some international cricket," Suhail said.

"Venues and final dates of the triangular series will be finalised in the next couple of days," he added.

The PCB official said that it could have been a quadrangular series, but India turned down an invitation.

Pakistan's only one-day series this year had been last month's Asia Cup and series against lowly ranked Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the Asia Cup finale at Karachi, as Sri Lanka defended its title by defeating India in the final.

Due to ever-rising security concerns, Australia earlier this year also postponed its tour to Pakistan.

- AP