Pakistan mull neutral venues for Australia visit

Australia are unlikely to tour Pakistan for the scheduled one-day series in April and May, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has said. Australia had cancelled their tour of Pakistan in the wake of the heightened violence in March 2008, and were expected to visit the country separately for the ODI and Test series this year.

However, with Australia still apprehensive over the security situation, Butt said the matches could be played at neutral venues. "Chances of them [Australia] agreeing to play in Pakistan are slim," Butt said. "They have asked us to suggest three neutral venues where the series can be relocated."

Butt said England, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai are being considered as alternatives in case the five ODIs and one Twenty20 do not take place in Pakistan. The venues will be discussed with Cricket Australia officials on the sidelines of an ICC executive board meeting later this month.

Australia have not played in Pakistan since 1998. In 2002, due to security concerns, a three Test series between the two sides in Pakistan was shifted to Colombo and Sharjah. "We want Australia to play in Pakistan but our first priority is to ensure the series is played," said Butt. "We have to be realistic, flexible and pragmatic about having this series."

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said he was unable to confirm whether Australia were discussing neutral venues with the PCB. "We are keen to play Pakistan and we have a fairly passionate view that world cricket needs Pakistan cricket to be strong," Young said. "Therefore we need to be able to play them as and where we should be under the FTP.

"At the moment there is a discussion ongoing between Cricket Australia and the PCB and I understand we are to catch up again later this month. We are keen to play them and that series is due to be played in Pakistan. We have seen the reports about the possibility of playing in neutral venues and that is something we have done before."