January 15, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 14, 1426

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ST JOHN’S (Antigua), Jan 14: West Indies ‘A’ are to play a two-day match against Pakistan on their cricket tour of England next July and August on a schedule that includes four three-day matches against the counties.

There is no match against their England counterparts and two one-day matches are still to be finalised.

The tour, which is in keeping with stated West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) policy of providing emerging players with international exposure, is the fourth planned over the period of a year. The ‘A’ team visited Sri Lanka last June and July and will host England Academy, ‘A’ team equivalent, between February 15-March 19 for two four-day Tests and five one-day matches.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ are expected in the Caribbean in May and June on an itinerary still to be finalised.

The visit to Sri Lanka last June and July was disrupted by dispute between WICB and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) but saw three four-day “Tests” and five one-day matches played against Sri Lanka ‘A’.

The WICB placed emphasis on such exchanges after it scrapped inclusion of foreign ‘A’ teams and West Indies Under-23 from domestic first-class tournament in 2004.

The last ‘A’ team tour of England in 2002 included 13 members who had either played or were to play Test cricket. But it was a disaster that severely damaged reputation of West Indies cricket there.—Agencies