PCB unlikely to alter schedule

Pakistan are likely to reject a request from the West Indies asking for a change in the schedule for when they tour Pakistan in November-December this year.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) requested a ten-day delay in the itinerary of the tour, asking for it to be moved from November 7 to November 17. Cricinfo learnt from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that this request is unlikely to be granted because Pakistan's schedule does not allow for any changes.

"They have requested a slight postponement," said a board official, "but it will be very difficult to agree to it. We do not have the time to effect the changes because we are going to South Africa soon after and some time in between will be needed." Negotiations will continue, however as officials from both boards are likely to meet in London next month to discuss the request, though it remains unlikely that the PCB will - or indeed can - yield to it.

The reason behind West Indies' request is not entirely clear. Reuters reported it to be because of a one-off Twenty20 match the West Indies want to play in November and this could be the US$5 million contest against South Africa, the brainchild of Antiguan businessman Allan Stanford. Other official sources say it isn't that match but a Twenty20 tournament the West Indian board is planning to host that month, though no further details of that are available.

"It will be problematic, but basically, the Future Tours Programme (FTP) has been finalised and this change would impede its implementation," said the official. "The FTP should take precedence over these issues and that is what we will be saying in the discussions."