Pakistan wants to play ODIs with Australia - Cricket News Update
In a surprise development, Pakistan has shown willingness to play One Day Internationals (ODI) in the upcoming series against Australia at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE), despite a chance to play a longest T20 series.
International Cricket Council (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 owing to the hot and humid conditions in the Emirate State, during the month of August.
The T20 series, if taken place, could become the longest international series ever staged in T20 cricket history. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cannot play its home-series in the country due to the tragic terrorists attack in Lahore, on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in March,
2009.
Various venues were considered but UAE was chosen to host the series, but there had never been a series taken place, during the months of June till September which are considered to be the hottest in Dubai.
Keeping the weather conditions in mind, many Australian players had expressed serious concerns over participating in the series, prompting Pakistan to propose the idea of a T20 series. Now, with the latest development, it is to be seen whether Cricket Australia
(CA) will give the series a go ahead.
PCB’s request for a six-match T20 series was only a backup plan in case the ODIs are scrapped; however, it was revealed that during the recent Kuala Lumpur meeting the chairman PCB and chief executive CA had agreed in principal to hold a six-match series
with three ODIs and three T20s.
Speaking on the issue PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said, "We had a decision with Cricket Australia officials that we'll play [three ODIs and three T20s] in the UAE in the evening," http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397 spoke to ESPNcricinfo. "Cricket Australia is looking at the weather as
well and our broadcaster objected to the omission of ODIs. However the decision will be taken this week."
However, there are concerns with Australian Cricketer’s Association (ACA) over the ODIs in hot conditions, but Pakistan insists that the issue can be addressed if the 50-over matches starts in the evening.
Meanwhile, CA has confirmed the discussions with the PCB chairman and termed them as positive, while the schedule of matches, staring times and grounds are yet to be finalised.
“They [Australian officials] have agreed in principle to a proposal that the PCB has put to us, subject to us seeing the final detail," a CA spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "We're expecting the final detail within the next 24 hours. We're expecting a formal
announcement from the PCB within the next two or three days," the CA spokesman concluded.
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