Pakistan to invite New Zealand for short tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will next week write to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) reminding them of their commitment along with the proposed dates for rescheduling the series cancelled last September.

The chairman of the PCB, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told Dawn Saturday that Pakistan would invite New Zealand to reschedule their postponed tour between April 20 and May 15.

He added that NZC would be offered the option of playing two Tests and three one-day internationals or a five-match oneday series.

"The PCB will officially write to the NZC by Monday in which it will suggest to them to play two Tests in April and the one-day series under lights in May. "The other proposal is to play a series of five one-day internationals," Tauqir said.

Tauqir said the proposals were workable. "They are one of the four teams who will appear in the April 9 to 19 Sharjah Cup. They can honour their commitment on their way back from Sharjah," the General said.

The PCB supremo said Pakistan was unavailable after May 15 "because of the three-match one-day series in Australia. The months to follow are not conducive for cricket in Pakistan."

If NZC agree to Pakistan's any of the two proposals, it would help the cash starved PCB earn approximately four-anda-half times more income from television rights than they would get by playing in Sharjah.

Besides, NZC confirmation would mean the series would be played, no matter on a neutral venue if the Black Caps doesn't find situation ideal for cricket in Pakistan.

PCB's plan to host New Zealand in April-May was ruined by Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) which refused to hold the competition in March.

When Tauqir was asked if Pakistan would consider pulling out of the Sharjah Cup so that it can host New Zealand, he said: "Pakistan is contractually bound to appear twice in Sharjah until 2004."

When pointed out the Sharjah Cup organizers could have easily held a successful tournament even after dropping out New Zealand, he said: "I agree that it could have been done but I don't make CBFS decisions. They are doing what they think is best for their organization."

South Africa and Sri Lanka are the two other participating teams besides Pakistan and New Zealand.

Tauqir said he had a detailed meeting with former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd who is in Rawalpindi giving guidance to Youth World Cup-bound Pakistan cricket team. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan was also present in the deliberations.

"Lloyd was very positive and felt that West Indies should play in Pakistan. He said he has not seen anything which could alarm him but at the same time he stressed that he cannot make a commitment because he was not part of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

"Lloyd, in fact, called WICB Wes Hall from my residence. Though I don't know the details of the conversation, Lloyd seemed optimistic about the tour.

"Lloyd was also pressed by Imran to convince WICB and the players association in the West Indies," Tauqir said.

The General said Pakistan team will not get any breathing space this year. He said the team needs to cover up for the lost time and lack of international exposure.

"The team will either be involved in international commitments or attend training camps which will either be staged at Murree or Abbottabad," he said.

Tauqir said he discussed the proposition of holding camp with team coach Mudassar Nazar. He added that around six to eight players would be added to the 14 presently in Bangladesh.

"Those 20-22 players will form the pool of players from whom the team for assignments upto the World Cup would be composed. The objective of adding players is to have more options, appropriate replacements and healthy competition," he said.

Barring the series against the West Indies, New Zealand and one-day tours to Sharjah and Australia, Pakistan is to play in the ICC Knock-Out tournament, host Australia before embarking on the African safari.