Pakistan’s already troubled quest to organise some international crickethas run into further obstacles after it emerged that Sri Lanka’s playerswould like to push back the tour

Cricinfo staff30-Dec-2008Pakistan’s already troubled quest to organise some international crickethas run into further obstacles after it emerged that Sri Lanka’s playerswould like to push back the tour in order to get some rest. If agreed, however, there might emerge a likely clash with Pakistan’s ODI tour to Bangladesh, currently scheduled for early March.Sri Lanka were inked in as replacements for India, who pulled out afterthe recent deterioration in relations between Pakistan and India. Theseries was briefly put into doubt after the sacking of Arjuna Ranatungaand his interim administration; just days before, Ranatunga had readilyagreed to touring Pakistan.But the tour was subsequently approved and cleared by the Sri Lankangovernment, though the itinerary is yet to be finalised. Originally, threeTests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 international were proposed, but SriLankan officials asked for the Twenty20 match to be dropped and two extra ODIs putin. Now, however, it is learnt they want two Tests, three ODIs and oneT20I.In this new scenario, the tour will run to March 7 and Pakistan arescheduled to leave for Bangladesh for a five-ODI series on March 3. “Ithas been intimated to us that Sri Lankan players want a break after theirtour to Bangladesh,” a Pakistan board official told Cricinfo. “Though they haven’tmade the details clear they are looking at mid-February to start the tourwhich will run beyond our scheduled departure for Bangladesh.”Pakistan remain keen on the three-Test, five-ODI schedule and have been incontact with SLC to try and push that idea and stick to the originaldates. But given their need to play cricket – and soon – they remainflexible.One option is to try and push forward the jaunt to Bangladesh to lateJanuary or February, which would then clear the way for Sri Lanka’s tour.It is an avenue, said the official, they are looking at. “We will knowmore about which way to go once we have received details of what kind ofdates Sri Lanka are looking at. Once that is in, we can work theschedules.”It is, says the PCB’s director general Javed Miandad, not an obstacle thatcannot be cleared. “There is no major problem,” he told Cricinfo. “We will be in touch withthem and I am sure, given the friendly relations between the two boards,we will be able to work something out that keeps everyone happy.”