CricketViewer.com

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Dr Nasim Ashraf, said here on Monday that the Australian team will visit Pakistan next year and the dates of their tour will be finalised in two weeks time.

“Cricket Australia have confirmed that their team will visit next year to make up for their postponed tour of Pakistan which was to be played this year and we welcome their decision,” he told newsmen after the closing ceremony of the ACC Level II coaching course at the National Cricket Academy.

He said in the next 15 days time the dates of the Australia team’s tour will be finalised besides fixing the strength of one-day and Test matches. “I was supposed to visit Australia to dicuss this issue but now there is no need to go there as I had very productive talks with the CA authorities who have shown keenness and confirmed regarding their team’s tour next year,” he said.

Chairman PCB said next year’s tour of the Australia team will help the PCB in making up for their postponed tour in which it had scheduled two Tests and five one-day matches. Dr Nasim Ashraf said the Pakistan team will be involved in a hectic non stop one-day match programme in which it is scheduled to play nearly 50 matches in the coming two years.

He said a wrong impression has been given in the press that South Africa has confirmed its tour of Pakistan later this year.“We are in the process of discussion and we want to host them after the Champions Trophy for a one-day series and nothing has as yet been finalised in this regard,” he asserted.

Dr Nasim Ashraf said PCB is also negotiating with the Sri Lankan Board regarding their team’s tour to Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup in June-July this year.“We had a very good response from the Lankan Board and they have assured that their team will be visiting Pakistan.”

He said the PCB was in the process to have a one-day series with New Zealand and West Indies in August ahead of the Champions Trophy.“We are working on it and we will soon be finalising all the modalities in this regard to create space to adjust these teams for their separate short trips keeping in view the fact that the Champions Trophy will be fast approaching at that time,” he added.

The ACC Level II course was attended by 16 coaches from thirty Asian countries. The PCB chief said the course will add to the existing knowledge of the participants and it will go a long way in the further promotion of cricket in Asia.

“We will be conducting a Level III coaching programme next year with the cooperation of Cricket Australia and we are committed to contribute in the overall development of the game around the globe,” he maintained.
Source:Cricket News