LAHORE, Feb 21: Karachi and Peshawar will host a One-day International each as India have refused to play Tests there due to security concerns. According to the much-awaited itinerary announced on Saturday , Karachi will host the first one-dayer on March 11 and Peshawar the third on March 19. Both matches will be played in daylight, though Karachi has floodlight facilities.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had proposed a Test at Karachi and Peshawar each, but an Indian security delegation, which had visited the venues early this month, had rejected longer stay in both the cities on security grounds.

India is scheduled to reach on March 10 instead of March 4 to play five ODIs and three Tests after almost 14 years.

Besides Karachi and Peshawar, Rawalpindi will host the second ODI on March 16 while Lahore fourth and fifth matches on March 21 and 24.

The Test series begins with the match at Multan from March 28. Lahore will host the second Test from April 5 while Rawalpindi the third from April 13.

The three-day practice match had been turned into a one-day warm up game to be played at Lahore on March 11.

Announcing the itinerary, PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said the decision not to hold Tests at Karachi and Peshawar was not good. He, however, expressed the hope that holding of one-dayers could lead to holding of Tests at both the venues.

He said the decision had been taken keeping in mind two objectives - resumption of cricketing ties with India and return of international matches to Karachi.

Had the two cricket boards stuck to their demands, the entire tour could have been in jeopardy, Ramiz said.

He said South Africa and New Zealand had refused to play in both the cities, but convincing the Indians, though for a one- dayer, was an achievement.

Asked if Faisalabad could share a one-dayer with Lahore, he said the decision was taken keeping in mind the success ratio of the Pakistan team at Lahore.

Pakistan had won all the matches played at Lahore during the last seven months, against Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand.

Replying to a question, Ramiz said the decision to start the one-day series first and the Test afterwards was taken on BCCI's suggestion.

"The interest of the Indian fans is more in the ODIs and if these will be held in April, according to the previous schedule, then it will clash with the election schedule of India," Ramiz stated.

Replying to another question, he said the arrival of Indian team was delayed for one week on the PCB's request.

"As the itinerary was announced today, we would have very short time to make arrangements for the sale of tickets, lodging and boarding and development of infrastructure at some stadia," he said.

He said the three-day practice match was omitted on the proposal of the Indian board.

"They were of the view that both the countries have similar weather conditions, therefore, there was no need to have a three- dayer," Ramiz said.

As the travel schedule of the Indian team is not mentioned in the itinerary, it is likely that the visitors will have only a 24-hour stay in Karachi and Peshawar.

AFP adds: The itinerary was finalized after an agreement was reached between the cricket boards of the two countries, Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters in Kolkata.