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 | | Friday, 10 May, 2002, 07:40 GMT 08:40 UK Australia consider neutral plan  Pakistan played West Indies in Sharjah earlier this year The Australian Cricket Board is considering the possibility of playing a series against Pakistan, scheduled for later this year, at a neutral venue. The Australian team was due to tour Pakistan in September and October but it was thrown into doubt by a suicide bombing in Karachi earlier this week which prompted New Zealand to pull out of a Test match and fly home. ACB spokesman Brendan McClements confirmed, however, that they were now looking at alternative venues, including Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. International Cricket Council rules permit countries to play at neutral venues if there are security concerns and Pakistan took on West Indies in Sharjah earlier this year. Morocco has yet to stage international cricket but has a suitable stadium at Tangier, owned by the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), which also organises games in Sharjah. "It's important for world cricket that Pakistan can continue to play," said McClements.
But moving the series to a neutral venue would have serious financial implications for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Prior to the cancellation of the Karachi Test against New Zealand, the PCB had already lost more than $10m (�6.8m) in potential revenue since last September. Earlier this a week, ACB chief executive James Sutherland said that as the tour was not due to begin until September, the situation was "clearly quite fluid". He added: "The ACB will continue to receive advice from the relevant experts to help the board make a proper judgement on the situation in Pakistan." The Board will not take any risks with player security and recently cancelled a tour of Zimbabwe because of the unsettled political situation. The Pakistan team will, meanwhile, visit Australia for a series of three one-day internationals, two of them to be played indoors. | |
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