Pakistan still want ODIs against Australia

Pakistan and Australia could yet play ODIs in the UAE this year © Associated Press Enlarge

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Pakistan has asked Australia to play three ODIs and three Twenty20s in the UAE in August and September, despite being granted ICC permission to change the series to six T20s. Cricket Australia is believed to have agreed in principle to the proposal, but is not expected to sign off on the deal until discussing it with its players, after the Australian Cricketers' Association expressed "significant concerns" about the extreme heat in the UAE at that time of year.

The PCB was open to the idea of only T20 games but ESPNcricinfo understands the broadcaster had objected for commercial reasons. The PCB's request for the ICC to allow a six-match T20 series due to the weather conditions was approved this week, but Pakistan considered it only a backup plan in case the ODI portion of the series could not go ahead.

The chairmen and chief executives of both sides met during the ICC's annual conference in Kuala Lumpur and agreed in principle on a series of three ODIs and three T20s in the UAE. The PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, said the matches would start in the evening in order to avoid the worst of the heat.

"We had a decision with Cricket Australia officials that we'll play [three ODIs and three T20s] in the UAE in the evening," Ashraf told ESPNcricinfo. "Cricket Australia is looking at the weather as well and our broadcaster objected to the omission of ODIs. However the decision will be taken this week."

The Australian Cricketers' Association has already expressed its concerns about playing ODIs in such hot weather, whereas T20s would lessen the problem due to a later start time and shorter games. However, Pakistan insists that the conditions can be handled by starting the 50-over matches in the evening.

Cricket Australia confirmed that positive discussions had taken place in Kuala Lumpur, between Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland and chairman Wally Edwards and their Pakistan counterparts. However, a spokesman said further details of the series, including the mix of matches, grounds and start times were yet to be finalised.

"They [Australian officials] have agreed in principle to a proposal that the PCB has put to us, subject to us seeing the final detail," a Cricket Australia spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "We're expecting the final detail within the next 24 hours. Once we sign off on the final detail we're expecting a formal announcement from the PCB within the next two or three days."