Pakistan wants to make tri-nation series annual event

Karachi, Dec 31: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) for some flexibility in the 10-year schedule which will be discussed and approved at Melbourne in February.

A spokesman of the board said the ICC has been requested to keep the provision for an additional team each year to assist Pakistan organize a triangular oneday competition.

The tournament will be staged in accordance with the format of Australia where the third team visits for the tournament if it is not playing a Test series there. Pakistan has also shown interest in hosting two home series' with the triangular tournament sandwiched between the two rubbers.

Last year, Pakistan and India competed in the Australian event while this year Zimbabwe will be the third nation to join the West Indies and the home team.

Pakistan last organized a triangular competition is 1994 which was also played Australia and South Africa. In 1997, a quadrangular competition to celebrate country's 50 years of independence was held.

"We want to make the triangular tournament an annual feature. It would not only result in financial gains, it would also help us distribute the games equally to all the centres. Need not to say that cricket will flourish," the spokesman said.

The official added that the PCB would also press the ICC to make available a standby team or compensate for the financial loses if India refuses to tour Pakistan. According to the 10-year programme, India are scheduled to visit Pakistan thrice. The cancellation of next year's series here has already incurred a $15 million loss to Pakistan.

Selection policy: On an another front, chairman of selectors Wasim Bari said the fitness and form of some of the key national players would be monitored before they are considered for the tour of New Zealand in February.

"We would see Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Younis Khan in action before deciding if they are worth retaining or regaining their places in the team," Bari conceded.

Some of these players are expected to figure in the Patron's Trophy which commence from January 26 as they are not entitled to play in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy for not being registered by their parent associations.

The players will get at least two rounds to prove their form and fitness as it is expected that the board would organize a reconditioning camp from Feb 7. The team departs on Feb 12 for New Zealand for three Tests and five one-day internationals.