04 August 2004	Wednesday	17 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, Aug 3: Sri Lanka will play a two-Test series against Pakistan immediately after the October's triangular tournament, which also involves Zimbabwe, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters, Shaharyar M. Khan, the PCB chairman, said that Sri Lanka has agreed to reschedule their tour to Pakistan, which was originally to take place in February/March next year.

Mr Khan, who returned home on Monday night after attending the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Colombo, said the decision was taken in mutual consultation with the officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

"Basically, the idea was to avoid a split tour by Sri Lanka. Therefore, it was decided to bring forward the Test series so that it could be played soon after the conclusion of the tri-series tournament," he said.

Sri Lanka, who in turn, were set to visit Bangladesh after the one-day series in Pakistan, will now tour that country next February. Mr Khan also announced that one of the Tests would definitely be allotted to Karachi, which in recent times had been ignored as a Test venue because of foreign teams' reluctance to visit the metropolis citing security fears.

"Karachi will surely host a Test against Sri Lanka," he confirmed, while adding that Peshawar, which like Karachi had been boycotted by visiting teams since October last year, will stage one of the triangular series matches.

The tri-series, consisting of seven matches including the final scheduled in Lahore, is slated to be played from Oct 1 to 16, followed by the back-to-back Tests against the Sri Lankans.

Zimbabwe, who are expected to arrive here around Sept 20, will play a two-day match as well as a four-day tie against Pakistan 'A' prior to the commencement of the triangular tournament.

Meanwhile, Mr Khan told reporters that the Asia Cup tournament, to be hosted by Pakistan in 2006, is expected to be played on a different format than the one that ended in Sri Lanka last Sunday.

"In principle, the ACC has decided to change the format on technical grounds. For example, we all agreed that the duration of the event should not be too strenuous on teams.

"That way, we will also curtail the expenses in organizing the tournament. And since India is to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006, the ACC decided to have a lengthy gap between the Asia Cup from the ICC event so that it doesn't lose its significance," he stressed.

The PCB chief added that in order to encourage ACC associate members like Nepal, Malaysia and the UAE, the cricket board will send junior outfits to those countries. "We need to support the smaller and less privileged members of the ACC. Our U-15, U-17, U-19 and 'A' teams will play them regularly on reciprocal basis."

Mr Khan further said that Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, has requested the PCB to organize a 'dual' camp at Lahore from Aug 12 to 15. "The idea is to invite some 30 fringe players who will undergo training along with the Pakistan squad for the Holland and England (Champions Trophy) tours.

Woolmer has planned to hold special sessions with these players during which they will be learning technical aspects of coaching, training, physiotherapy and computer analyzing."

On the issue of central contract for the Pakistan players, Mr Khan informed that its modalities are still being worked out, and once finalized, it could be implemented with a fortnight.

The PCB is also set to hold a sponsors' conference here on Aug 18 to seek sponsorship for major domestic tournaments like the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and the Patron's Trophy etc.