LAHORE, May 26: The three-nation cricket series in Holland, involving Pakistan, India and world champions Australia will now be played on a single league format. The competition will be staged from Aug 20 to 27.
All three countries confirmed their participation after settling various issues related to boarding and lodgings, ground facilities and taxes. The issues were raised because Holland was a non-regular venue of the ICC and the three countries are not familiar with different local conditions.
However, the number of matches have been reduced to four, including the final, from seven by selecting the single league system. Earlier, the three countries had agreed to play on a double league basis.
The competition was the brainchild of Cricket Australia to compensate Pakistan Cricket Board for the losses it incurred by holding the home series against Australia in Colombo and Sharjah in 2002-03.
Although the PCB has accepted the Australian demand yet it is not expecting a huge revenue which can compensate its losses. It may be mentioned that Cricket Australia had refused to visit Pakistan on security grounds and proposed Colombo and Sharjah as venues for the series.
The PCB in order not to miss the series because of the team's preparation before the World Cup-2003 accepted the Australian demand and later also accepted the similar demand of the West Indies and hosted them in Sharjah.
But PCB suffered great financial losses by hosting both the Australia and The West Indies at neutral venues. Meanwhile, to prepare Pakistan team for the three upcoming important competitions, the training camp is likely to begin from the last week of June.
Pakistan are to take part in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka from July 16 to Aug 1, triangular series in Holland and the ICC Champions Trophy in England from Sept 10 to 25. After the Asia Cup, Pakistan will resume their training camp. However, they will directly reach England after the Holland event.
