Australia to tour Pakistan twice in two years
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced that Australia will tour Pakistan in April/May 2009 and again in 2010. Apart from the agreement on the Australian team’s tour to Pakistan, the PCB has also confirmed its Future Tour Programme (FTP), with a tour to Australia in 2009-10 for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.
The program has been agreed after Australia’s scheduled tour of Pakistan in March/April this year was postponed. PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said “Although disappointed that the tour couldn’t be held as originally scheduled, the PCB is pleased that the Australian team will come to play in Pakistan twice, in 2009 and again in 2010”.
“Our discussions with Cricket Australia reflect both countries’ strong desire to ensure that the postponed matches are played in Pakistan. Apart from the two tours at home, the PCB has also confirmed Pakistan team’s tour of Australia for the 2009-10 season,” he added.
The 2009 tour of Pakistan will consist of five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international following the Australian team’s commitments in South Africa. Australia will then return to Pakistan in August/September 2010 to play three Test matches, with final dates and venues to be agreed depending on each nation’s FTP obligations. “Today’s announcement demonstrates Cricket Australia’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under FTP and also to Pakistan cricket,” said Cricket Australia Chairman, Creagh O Connor. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to travel to Pakistan to complete the postponed matches and to play them in Australia as agreed under the FTP,” he added. Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Monday announced that Australia will tour Pakistan in April-May 2009 and again in 2010.
As well as agreement for the Australian team to tour Pakistan, the PCB has also confirmed its FTP tour to Australia in 2009-10 for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international, says a joint media release of Cricket Australia and Pakistan Cricket Board issued here Monday. The program has been agreed after Australia’s scheduled tour of Pakistan in March-April this year was postponed. PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf said: “Although disappointed that the tour couldn’t be completed as originally scheduled, the PCB is very pleased that the Australian team will come to play in Pakistan twice, in 2009 and again in 2010.”
“Our discussions with Cricket Australia showed both countries’ strong desire to ensure the postponed matches were played in Pakistan. As well as the two tours at home, the PCB has also confirmed the Pakistan team’s tour of Australia for the 2009-10 seasons.”
The 2009 tour of Pakistan will consist of five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International following the Australian team’s commitments in South Africa. Australia will then return to Pakistan in August-September 2010 to play three Test matches, with final dates and venues to be agreed depending on each nation’s Future Tours Program (FTP) obligations. “Today’s announcement demonstrates Cricket Australia’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Future Tours Program and also to Pakistan cricket,” Cricket Australia Chairman, Creagh O’Connor, said.