Pakistan Cricket Board to announce the itinerary against India

The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to announce the itinerary of the home series against India, scheduled to be held from January 4 to February 20, 2009, by Tuesday.

PCB Director Cricket Operations International Zakir Khan told Dawn that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had confirmed the itinerary sent to it 10 days ago.

"We have received the itinerary a couple of days back and the BCCI has okayed all the venues suggested in the proposed itinerary," Zakir said.

India are to play three Tests, five one-day internationals, one Twenty-20 and one three-day side game.

"The BCCI’s approved itinerary will be presented before the PCB Governing Board’s international cricket committee to give its final approval and to make it public," he said.

The PCB has pinned all its hopes on the India series after an almost barren 2008, due mainly to the security fears of many teams. The Australians deferred their planned tour to Pakistan in April, while later five nations were reluctant to play the ICC Champions Trophy here from September 12 as the international game’s governing body also postponed it for next year.

Zakir said that the series was important for the PCB and Pakistan was ready to host it in a befitting manner.

"Pakistan is quite capable to hold any series without any security fears as we have done so in the past too," he said.

Zakir, however, was not ready to disclose the match venues as yet, saying that it was a confidential matter.

However, it is learnt that the Test matches are likely to be held in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. The same cities will also hold a ODI each, while Faisalabad and Multan will host the remaining two matches. The three-day match is likely to be held in Lahore.