June 07  
Mudassar hopeful of Aussie tour

MELBOURNE: Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar is hoping Australia will proceed with their tour to Pakistan later this year in spite of security fears. "We're hoping it will go ahead. We anticipate the Australians coming to Pakistan, for the time being," Mudassar told reporters at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Thursday. "It is my earnest desire that the Australians come to Pakistan," he added. "I can understand their reluctance. But if it doesn't take place in Pakistan, hopefully it will take place somewhere else."

New Zealand cut short their tour to Pakistan in May after a suicide bombing outside the team's hotel in Karachi killed 14 people. Owing to the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Australia are pursuing the possibility of shifting the series in Pakistan to a neutral venue such as Morocco or Sharjah in September and October.

Pakistan will play South Africa and Sri Lanka in a triangular one-day series in Morocco in August, pending approval of the venue by an International Cricket Council inspection party later this month. "I suppose that (Morocco) could be one of the options," Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said. Details of Australia's proposed tour were being handled by the two controlling boards, he added.

He said he had heard the Moroccan facilities were far superior to those of Sharjah. "However, we are all very keen that they should come to Pakistan, and whatever discussions that are required will be done by me at this level," he said. "But the real decision-makers are the two boards. We have had a Test series (in Sharjah this year) at a neutral venue against the West Indies."

Australia will play hosts to Pakistan for a three-match limited-over series starting next week. The first two games will be played indoors at the Docklands Stadium on June 12 and 15, with the third game in Brisbane on June 19. The Pakistan team flew into Melbourne on Thursday and inspected the drop-in pitch at the Docklands.