January 20, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 19, 1426

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LAHORE, Jan 19: The chances of a proposed one-day triangular series between Australia, India and Pakistan in September this year seem bright following Zimbabwe’s decision to stay away from Test cricket for one year due to domestic reasons.

The three cricket boards are considering a triangular series before the ICC Champions Trophy-2006 in India in October. But a two-Test series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in September was creating problems for the PCB for adjustment of the triangular series.

When contacted by Dawn, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director cricket operations Saleem Altaf, said that keeping in view the decision taken by Zimbabwe the PCB would consider the alternative.

“The decision will also give PCB enough time to fit in the triangular series (Australia, India, Pakistan) which earlier did not seem possible” he said.

Saleem was non-committal when asked if Zimbabwe would come to Pakistan to play One-day matches. “I can not comment at the moment and the position will be become clearer after PCB seeks advice of the ICC for an alternative,” he said.

Saleem specified that he would discuss the matter with the ICC in Dubai on Saturday.

Saleem is scheduled to leave for Dubai on Friday where he will plead the review appeal of medium-pacer Shabbir Ahmed for ending a year ban on the bowler imposed by the ICC for his illegal bowling action.

He was optimistic that Shabbir’s period would be reduced, if not completely waived off.

“Sarfraz Nawaz (former medium-pacer) did hard work with Shabbir to improve his action and hopefully the improvement will help a lot to convince the ICC to reduce or lift the ban”, he said.