India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to face-off in tri-series

India's hectic international schedule just got busier, with the Indian board confirming the team's participation in a tri-series in Bangladesh in May 2008, also involving Pakistan. The series is scheduled shortly after the South Africans wind up their tour of India, set to take place after India return from Australia in March.

"We can confirm that India will participate in the series with Bangladesh and Pakistan,"

Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, told.

"The fixtures and dates will be announced in 10-15 days' time."

South Africa were originally set to participate in the series but pulled out, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had invited Pakistan instead.

"Originally the South African team was to participate in the tri-nation series along with India and Bangladesh,"

Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the BCB's operations chief, told Cricket365.com.

"However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has pulled out and we have invited the Pakistan Cricket Board to send the team and they have agreed."

The three sides last met in a tri-series in Bangladesh in 1998, with India edging out Pakistan in a best-of-three finals. This series will have the teams playing each other twice in the league stages before the final.

Australia’s tour to Pakistan subject to security

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have to wait for a final word from a high-level security delegation of Cricket Australia (CA) before they can start planning for tours by the Australian junior and senior teams this season.

While the Australian under-19 and ‘A’ teams are due to tour Pakistan from late August to October onwards, the senior team tours in February-March next year to play three Tests and five One-day Internationals (ODIs).

A senior official of the board said on Friday that Cricket Australia had confirmed they would be sending their inspection team on a reconnaissance visit sometime in July.

The Australians would visit all the proposed venues and meet with security officials to ensure their teams face no problems in Pakistan.

Shafqat Nagmi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said the visit by the inspection team didn’t mean the Australians had any reservations about playing in Pakistan. “Their tours are very much on. These inspection visits are now routine and done before every series,” he added.

Australia had in 2002 backed out of touring Pakistan citing security concerns for their players after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The series was later played at neutral venues.

The Australians last played a Test series in Pakistan in 1998-99 but their junior teams have made visits in the last three years.