Pak trying to rope in Sri Lanka for tri-series: Sources

Agencies

Posted online: Friday, March 14, 2008 at 1125 hrs IST

Karachi, March 14:
After managing to convince Bangladesh to play a one-day series next month in Pakistan, the Cricket Board is now trying to rope in Sri Lanka also for a one-day rubber in April.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said they were trying to convince Sri Lanka to either play in a tri-series involving Bangladesh or a bilateral one-day rubber.

"Bangladesh have already accepted Pakistan's invitation. The Board is hurriedly organising these series after Australia this week postponed its long awaited Test tour of Pakistan because of security concerns for its players," they said.

A Pakistan board official said that they were more keen on having a tri-series to push up its revenues and attract crowds but a final decision from Sri Lanka would only be known next week during the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Lahore on March 20.

Pakistan's cricket authorities are concerned with the lack of international cricket exposure for its team as their next assignment is not until last week of June when the Asia Cup is held in Pakistan.

In between the Asia Cup and the Champions trophy in September also Pakistan is struggling to fill in the voids by

asking the West Indies and New Zealand to tour in November for a tri-series.

The Board official also said that Pakistan saw a window to play against Australia sometime in November perhaps even a seven match one-day series.