ACB prefers to play in October

SYDNEY - The Australian Cricket Board wants to play Pakistan in October at a neutral venue rather than have the series postponed, chief executive James Sutherland said today.

Speaking on Fox Sports News, Sutherland said it was the ACB's preference to play the three-Test series in the scheduled October 1-29 window.

"What we've said to the Pakistan Cricket Board is that we're very keen for these matches to be played in October as scheduled and hopefully that's the approach they're taking," Sutherland said.

Australia last week refused to play the Tests in Pakistan because of player safety concerns but it would consider a neutral venue.

Sutherland said that if the series did not go ahead in October, it would be postponed to a year or two down the track, as was the case with the series against Zimbabwe, which was put back two years after Australia refused to tour earlier this year for safety reasons.

"It's not a matter if the matches get played but a matter of when," Sutherland said.

Pakistan was desperate to host the matches, citing financial hardship after nearly 12 months of virtually no cricket in the Islamic state following the September 11 attacks on the US.

Sutherland was sympathetic to Pakistan.

"This [Australia tour] is the third tour [to Pakistan] this calendar year that's either been aborted or cancelled.

"We know what sort of implication that would have for us - you can only imagine the significant financial impact in Pakistan."

Sutherland said he was aware that Bangladesh, Sharjah and Sri Lanka has been mentioned as possible venues but wouldn't be drawn on any preferences, although his comments on the Test-worthiness of grounds appeared to rule out Sharjah and Bangladesh.

"It's not easy to make grounds available. In terms of preparing wickets and grounds for Test cricket, it's difficult - the wicket needs to last five days.

"One of the reasons we made the decision now is to make sure the Pakistanis have an opportunity to access the grounds and start working through that."

However, with only two Test grounds in Bangladesh - Dhaka and Chittagong, which have a hosted a grand total of 20 days worth of Test cricket between them in three years - it's unlikely a three-Test series could be played in that country.

And it's also unlikely Sharjah - traditionally a one-day venue - could survive three back-to-back Tests.

Sri Lanka has three recognised Test venues - Colombo, Galle and Kandy.