BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan hopeful over tour

Pakistani cricket officials are sounding increasingly hopeful that the home Test series against Australia later this year will not have to be switched to a neutral venue.

The tour was thrown into doubt earlier this year when New Zealand cut short their visit after a bomb explosion in Karachi, killing 14 people.

Next month's triangular one-day series against Australia and New Zealand appears certain to take place outside Pakistan, with Kenya emerging as the favoured alternative.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board is hopeful that the Test series, which is due to take place in October, can be salvaged.

"We are committed to providing as much security as possible to the Australians.

"We provided New Zealand the best of security until that blast occurred, but the New Zealand team was never a target," said PCB chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia.

Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf
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National president General Pervez Musharraf has promised to help by speaking to the Australian government about the matter.

Some senior Australian players have voiced a reluctance to travel to Pakistan, but Test skipper Steve Waugh has said he will abide by whatever the Australian Cricket Board recommends.

If the series is switched to a neutral venue, Bangladesh appears the most likely option.

But that would be bad news for the PCB, which has lost an estimated $20m because of the cancellation of previous tours.

Director Munawwar Rana says the explosion in May should not be used as a reason for calling off the tour.

"New Zealand appreciated our security arrangements and what happened in Karachi could have happened anywhere in the world," he commented.


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