LAHORE, Jan 1: Chances of Sri Lankan cricket squad’s tour to Pakistan got a boost on Thursday after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to make changes in the itinerary of Pakistan’s tour to their country, scheduled in March, to help Pakistan host Sri Lanka from mid February, a top Pakistan cricket official said.

Saleem Altaf, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, said the BCB had assured that it was ready to change the schedule of Pakistan team’s tour to Bangladesh, insisting, however, first the PCB should finalise the itinerary with Sri Lanka.

Pakistan invited Sri Lanka for a full series from Jan 20 after India’s refusal to visit Pakistan from Jan 4 in the wake of the Mumbai incident.

Though initially, the Sri Lankans were ready to tour Pakistan from Jan 20, as a result of a sudden top-level change in the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) set-up, the new management informed the PCB they could visit Pakistan from Feb 15 to March 7, an arrangement that is clashing with the dates of Pakistan’s tour to Bangladesh for a five-match One-day International series.

Saleem said the PCB had asked the SLC to respond to the proposed itinerary after confirming it so that a new schedule with Bangladesh could be decided, adding that the SLC had promised for the early submission of the itinerary (to the PCB) after giving it approval.

If an agreement is reached on the new itinerary sent by the PCB (to the SLC), Sri Lanka will play two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 in Pakistan from Feb 15, instead of three Tests and five ODIs as was proposed in the earlier tour programme starting from Jan 20.

Dispelling the impression that the SLC was using delaying tactics, Saleem said the Sri Lankan ambassador in Malaysia attended the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in December, assuring the PCB that his team would tour Pakistan citing involvement of the two governments in the matter.

Meanwhile, Saleem said the national selection committee would decide the names of 25 players for the 2009 central contract.

He revealed that the next Governing Body meeting would be held by Jan 15, adding after getting its approval the central contracts would be awarded.

He said the PCB had not yet discussed the subject of Shoaib Malik’s extension as Pakistan captain after his term ended on Dec 31, 2008.

To a question, Saleem asserted that the board had not permitted fast bowler Mohammad Asif to play in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy since he was facing a ban for a positive dope test during the IPL last year. Till the final hearing due in London on Jan 24 the PCB could not allow Asif to play for or in Pakistan, he added.