PCB planning triangular series to bring back international cricket to Pakistan

Lahore, Sep 1 : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf is planning to hold a Triangular series with Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in October and November to bring back international cricket in Pakistan.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will be the other participants of the triangular series beside hosts Pakistan, the source said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has earlier requested Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to change their schedule of the Pakistan tour that was to be held in November and December prior to Pakistan’s tour to India.

The Zimbabwe Cricket authorities agreed to postpone the tour to next year and the dates of tour will be finalised later, The Nation reports.

If Zaka Ashraf succeeded in holding the triangular series in a successful manner that will be his other achievement after revival of cricketing ties with India, the source added.

The source revealed that the PCB is negotiating with Afghanistan and Zimbabwe cricket boards officials to finalise the itinerary of the series to be held in October and November.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board also delayed launching of Pakistan Twenty20 league till March 2013 for this triangular series, the source added.

Pakistan was due to play two Tests, three one-day internationals (ODIs) and two T20 international matches in Zimbabwe ahead of their much-hyped tour to India in December.

Pakistan will tour India in late December to play three ODIs and two T20 internationals and the series is being given a lot of importance as it will herald the revival of bilateral cricket ties between the two nations which were frozen since 2007.