PCB says series with Australia to go ahead as per schedule

PCB says series with Australia to go ahead as per scheduleLahore, Apr 6 : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has rubbished speculation that the one-day international series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could be postponed or cancelled owing to lack of arrangements.

Ijaz insisted that the matches would go ahead as scheduled later this month, the Daily Times reported.

Reacting to media speculation about the series scheduled to start from April 22, Ijaz said on Sunday all arrangements were on track and the two boards had also reached a memorandum of understanding on the matches that would be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

"There is no way the series will now be postponed or cancelled we will have the first match on April 22," he maintained.

"Hopefully in next two days we will announce the sponsorships for the series. It is true that due to the global economic recession we were not able to sell sponsorship rights in a bundle," he said.

However, Ijaz said the board had secured different sponsors for the series, which had to be shifted to the UAE as Australia declined to send its team to Pakistan on security grounds.

He said the Australians were now more or less satisfied with the security plan for the series. (ANI)