With the Australian govt not clearing the cricket team's tour of Pakistan, the five-match ODI series between the countries will now take place in the United Arab Emirates.
With the Australian government not clearing the cricket team's tour of Pakistan on security grounds, the five-match ODI series between the countries would now take place at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan's state-owned wire service quoted Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt as saying that the series scheduled in April-May this year was on but would be held in
Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"Cricket Australia is still very keen to tour Pakistan but they are not getting clearance from their government because of security reasons," Butt said.
He said he had a very fruitful and cordial meeting with the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland in which it was agreed to play the five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 fixture in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Butt said he put forward a proposal to CA for playing a few matches in Pakistan but CA didn't accept the proposal because of security reasons.
He, however, said both boards were now looking at also holding their bilateral test series sometime in June and July.
"We are looking for a window but the international calendar is packed and our first priority is the one-day rubber should be held on schedule," he said.
Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998 and the two countries have not played a bilateral series since 2005. Australia pulled out of its full test tour to Pakistan last year due to security reasons but have agreed to split the one-day and Test series.
The PCB chairman also explained the reason for the International Cricket Council relocating the Champions Trophy from Pakistan.
He said because teams like Australia, England and New Zealand were not willing to send their teams to Pakistan for security reasons it was inevitable the tournament would be shifted elsewhere.
"There is nothing much we can do in the current scenario. Under these circumstances, it was not possible to hold the event in Pakistan. It was my wish it should have been held in Pakistan but non-clearance of governments was a big issue for other teams," he added.
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