Home series can be reversed: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Thursday said Pakistan and Australia can reverse the series with mutual consent if the world champions refuse to undertake the tour in October because of security concerns.

"The neutral venue option is a new concept and remains available for consideration by any country affected by tour disruption. Remember too that a series can be reserved, and played in the home country of the touring team," ICC spokesman Mark Harrison told Dawn from London.

He added: "Obviously this is not ideal but may provide another option for consideration in difficult times. Series can also be rescheduled, where other commitments allow."

Australia's tour to Pakistan is under cloud because of May 8 bomb blast outside New Zealand's team hotel in Karachi and tension on the border. Australia are due for three Tests from Oct 1 to 24.

The world champions and New Zealand are also scheduled in Pakistan for the tri-nation one-day series between Aug 27 and Sept 7.

According to ICC's 10-year calendar, which Harrison said can be altered by agreement and where it does not displace an existing commitment, Australia are to host Pakistan in December 2004. A proposal, that has been recently floated, suggests Pakistan convince Australia to host them in October this year and instead request them visit this part of the world in December 2004.

A spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would work out all options before going to the Press on the subject.

"We will have our own secretariat discussions and where the policy lies, will be spelled out by the chairman of the board," the spokesman said.

Some of the Australian cricketers have hinted their willingness to play the series on neutral territory of Morocco where the facilities will be inspected by Mike Procter on June 15 and 16. But the ACB has only said it was monitoring situation in Pakistan.

Pakistan took the option of playing West Indies at the neutral venue of Sharjah earlier this year. But the PCB has repeatedly stressed the decision was taken because of shortage of time, while promising not to make it a precedent.

The ICC said it might act as facilitator in reversing the series "but in the first case, discussions should be between the PCB and the ACB."

Harrison said the ICC would certainly be talking to the PCB, Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) about the tours to Pakistan.

"It cannot demand that they go if there are genuine security concerns but it can act as facilitator, an intermediary and provide a relatively independent and objective view of the situation."

New Zealand aborted the rescheduled tour when they returned home immediately after the bomb blast that left 16 killed and 18 hurt. New Zealand were committed to play three Tests in September last year when their tour was cancelled because of terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept 11.

Their revised tour included two Tests but only one was played in which Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs at Lahore. The Black Caps are still bound to play the cancelled Test so that the series can be included in the ICC World Test Championship.