RAWALPINDI, March 16: Pakistan are keen to play a limited-overs series in India later this year, Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Ramiz Raja said on Tuesday.

"If we are invited, we will be happy to go," Raja said. "It will be a good preparation for our tour of Australia scheduled at the end of the year." India are due to host world champions Australia and South Africa from September to December.

Australia have said they will play only Test matches in India, but Pakistan could be accommodated in a tri-series alongside South Africa in early November. "We could squeeze the trip to India after our home series against Zimbabwe in October and before we leave for Australia in late November," he said. in a tri-series in the Netherlands in August.

Recent media reports have suggested the International Cricket Council (ICC) may shift the Champions Trophy out of England if the England Cricket Board decline to tour Zimbabwe this year. -Reuters