July 7, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, July 6: The triangular series involving Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia next month is certain to be played in Kenya, a top cricket official said Saturday.

“Kenya is almost final,” Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told Dawn. “Having already organised the ICC Trophy, I think it will be a good venue.”

Pakistan were to organise the series at home but both Australia and New Zealand are reluctant to tour this part of the world because of security fears.

Tauqir said that the PCB was waiting to hear from the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) if at all they would come down for a scheduled three Test series in October.

“It is their Foreign Office that has to give them the green signal on the security situation in Pakistan and the ACB has said they are waiting to get the go-ahead.”

The PCB, if Aussies refuse, was now considering Bangladesh as a neutral venue.

“Bangladesh would suit us because the sport has a good following there and it would be nice for Test cricket to see big crowds coming in.”

The final decision on the venue will be taken once PCB Director Brig Munawwar Rana returns from abroad.