KARACHI, April 20: Pakistani cricket authorities are unwilling to host a depleted Zimbabwe side for a series of One-day Internationals later this year, an official said on Thursday.

The African nation was due to arrive in Pakistan for a Test and one-day series in September, but a players' strike forced the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) to postpone all Test cricket until next February.

The ZCU interim committee added it would continue to play One-day Internationals but not Tests, due to the depleted strength of the squad.

Unhappy with the situation, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said Reuters that a letter had been sent to the ZCU asking them to arrange a full Test and One-day International tour next year.

“It is not feasible for us to host them only for one-dayers this year. We have told them it would be better if they come next year for a full series,” said the PCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“They were due to play Tests in Pakistan in 2004. But toured only for the one-day games after the ICC suspended their Test status. We want this backlog of Tests cleared because of the new future tours programme,” he said.

He said that the ZCU had asked the PCB to reconsider its decision not to host their team this year.

“We are in the process of having discussions with them and one possibility is that we might end up having a triangular one-day series with Zimbabwe and the West Indies.”

Pakistan are due to host West Indies for three Tests and three one-dayers at the end of the year and the official added that the tour had been confirmed.

The dispute between the ZCU and leading players began when Tatenda Taibu resigned as Zimbabwe captain last year and announced his retirement from international cricket to protest against his home nation's running of the sport. —Reuters