Saudi Arabia to host unofficial one-day matches

Saudi Arabia will host three unofficial one-day matches between Pakistan XI and an International XI on July 15, 21 and 22. This would be the first time Saudi Arabia would stage such an event, and the matches would be played in Riyadh and Jeddah.

"The ICC has given us approval for these unofficial matches, which will be played on artificial turf," Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain and one of the organisers, told Reuters. "The idea is to help develop and promote cricket in that country."

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, will lead the Pakistan XI team which includes Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik. The international side includes five South Africans - Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph and Andre Nel - and New Zealanders Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori.

Saudi Arabia was scheduled to host two exhibition matches in February between the same sides, but the games were cancelled.