Pakistan asks new BCCI Chief to clear tour plans
Bureau Report

LAHORE—The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) authorities have asked the newly elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to finalise the Indians’ itinerary for next year’s test and one-day series.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan sent a message on Wednesday to his new BCCI counterpart Sharad Pawar inviting him to Pakistan and asking him to confirm the tour itinerary as soon as possible.
Although the Pakistan board sent a proposed tour itinerary to India last month, they have yet to receive conformation.
The proposed itinerary has India arriving in Pakistan on January 1 and playing three tests in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi followed by five one-dayers in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi.
The Indian tour will be followed by the Asia Cup from February 16.
“The Chairman has congratulated Sharad Pawar and his colleagues on their (election) victory and asked them to settle matters quickly as we have to make preparations for the tour in advance,” PCB Director Abbas Zaidi told newsmen.
Sharad Pawar, a federal minister in the Indian cabinet, won the BCCI election on Tuesday bringing to an end the era of Jagmohan Dalmiya.
Zaidi said many security and logistical details needed to be resolved before the start of India’s tour.
“Like last year, we are expecting a lot of visitors from across the border for the matches and we have to meet with the government and finalise the visa policy for the tour,” he said.
New BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said the itinerary would be discussed when senior board officials hold meetings in Mumbai over the weekend.
The Indians toured Pakistan last year after a gap of 14 years and the series was a big financial success for the Pakistan Cricket Board and a big step forward in historically fraught diplomatic relations between the two countries.—Agencies