Pakistan ponder Abu Dhabi matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may consider reversing its stance on limiting the number of ODIs it will play in Abu Dhabi. Unsurprisingly, potentially lucrative financial incentives have brought about the apparent change of heart.

Pakistan had earlier rejected proposals from organisers in Abu Dhabi after participating in two charity ODIs against India in April. At the time they cited a tight international schedule for the year ahead as the main stumbling block to more such matches, but the board now appears to have opened the door for a possible return to the Middle East.

Saleem Altaf, director cricket operations, PCB, told Reuters, "The cricket set-up in Abu Dhabi is keen to have more matches this year. "There are opportunities available to them, so we have to look at what financial benefits we can gain."

The two-match series in April raised US$ 10 million for victims from the earthquake that struck northern areas of both countries in October last year. Pakistan's change of mind has now increased the possibility of Abu Dhabi hosting matches in September ahead of the Champions Trophy in India in October. Altaf said that the team had a free period between September 20 and October 3 and could play in the UAE if financial considerations were right.

That statement puts him, apparently, at odds with his chairman, Shaharyar Khan, who some time ago refused an opportunity to play a tri-series in India during the very same period because he felt it would unnecessarily increase the burden on players, many of whom would have just returned from an arduous tour of England. Some Pakistani players, tentatively, have spoken about the worries of player burnout and a packed international schedule - Shahid Afridi foremost among them.