England to tour Pakistan, confirms PCB chief

London, June 28: The chief of the Pakistan crcket Board (PCB), General Tauqir Zia confirmed during the Asian Cricket Council meeting that England will tour Pakistan as scheduled during the coming season.

He has dispelled reports in the British media that England may not tour Pakistan unless the board takes further action over Justice Mohammad Qayum's report regarding the names of the players who have been fined.

" England will tour Pakistan and the Chief Executive of the England Cricket Board(ECB) Tim Lamb has assured me that there is no string attached to it. Lord Maclauren the chairman of the ECB has also told me that is no truth in rumours that England will not tour Pakistan." said General Tauqir Zia."

No one can however dictate to us as to who we should play and who we should not", he stressed.

The general also said that Pakistan has its full support for Bangladesh, "we have have supported their application even in 1997 and we will help them to develop their infrastructure to develop the game in every part of their country. Pakistan obviously is delighted they have been made full members of the ICC." he said.

" We are talking to them about future matches against them, at the moment we do not know as to who will play the first Test against them but we will certainly like to be the first one to play against them" he said.

The chief of the PCB also confirmed that the transcript of Salim Malik's tape which has been handed over by a newspaper about matchfixing and bribery to the ICC has been passed on to the PCB long time ago but, " we have not received the copy of the tape from the ICC yet which will be given to us, Australian Cricket Board and the newly appointed anti-corruption director Sir Paul Condon.We will look into it and then take whatever step necessary", he said.

The Asian Cricket Council will always work with blessing of the ICC.

"We have formed an Asian Cricket Foundation now which will look after the human welfare, marketing of the game, finance and event control in the region."

Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, the outgoing president of International Cricket Council (ICC), has accepted to head this foundation.Welfare of the players, itineraries will all be dealt with by this foundation and we will make sure that our matches of the Asia region do not clash with international commitments," said Zia.