KARACHI, Dec 16: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would be starting the pension and welfare scheme in a couple of months to give financial support to country’s former Test cricketers, Chairman PCB Dr Nasim Ashraf said here on Saturday.

''The draft for our financial support scheme for the former Test cricketers is in the final stages and would be implemented in two-months,” Nasim told reporters here at the National Stadium.

He added that the initiative was taken to support all the former Test players so that they could spend their life without facing any financial problems.

Nasim stated that after running the scheme for the Test cricketers successfully, the PCB would also start its campaign for the first-class cricketers.

On upgrade of the National Stadium, Nasim said the development work, including increase in the venue's capacity, would start early next year, to be completed in the same year.

He added the work on other venues of the country will also be finalised in 2007.

Pakistan will host the Asia Cup in April 2008 and will be the co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup along with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On the longstanding issue relating to the PCB constitution, Nasim said the board's constitution would be finalised by 31 January, 2007. —PPI