India, Pakistan plan joint quadrangular series next year

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are planning to jointly host a 13-match quadrangular limited overs cricket tournament when Zimbabwe and the West Indies visit the two countries in February-March next year.

The Zimbabweans are scheduled to visit India for a two Test series while the Windies are slated to tour Pakistan around the same time for a three Test series and the two host country boards are planning to scrap the five-match limited overs bilateral series scheduled after the Tests and convert them into a quadrangular tourney, BCCI sources told PTI in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The final of the tournament, which is only in the planning stage as of now, would be held in Pakistan with India and Pakistan hosting six matches each to complete the 12-match double headed round-robin phase of the tournament, sources added.

Since it is a quardrangular event and not a bilateral series between India and Pakistan, the clearance from the Indian government to participate in the tourney should not be a problem, they said.

Meanwhile, the BCCI working committee, which is scheduled to meet next month, is to discuss the invitation received from the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) for the rescheduled three match indoor one-day series to be held after the Asian Test Championship league match between India and Pakistan from September 13 to 17, sources added.