Pakistan to postpone Zimbabwe series

Pakistan are on the verge of withdrawing their invitation to Zimbabwe to play seven ODIs. The Pakistan Cricket Board are reported by Reuters to be unwilling to host the weakened Zimbabwe side for just a one-day series.

The tour itinerary originally involved Tests as well as ODIs, but Zimbabwe's self-imposed suspension from Test cricket, which will run through to February 2007, has meant that only a one-day series can he held.

A PCB official told Reuters that the board had written to Zimbabwe Cricket requesting that the tour be rescheduled to a time when they are able to fulfill Test commitments.

"It is not feasible for us to host them only for one-dayers this year," the official was quoted as saying. "We have told them it would be better if they come next year for a full series. They were due to play Tests in Pakistan in 2004 but toured only for the one-day games after the ICC suspended their Test status. We want this backlog of Tests cleared because of the new Future Tours Programme."

The official added that Zimbabwe had asked for the decision to be reconsidered. "We are in the process of having discussions with them and one possibility is that we might end up having a triangular one-day series with Zimbabwe and the West Indies."