Pakistan's tour of the West Indies in July 2013 is likely to be split
into two parts in order to accommodate the PCB's plan of hosting India
in August for a series that is yet to be confirmed. Pakistan were due to
play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s in the Caribbean in June
and July but now they will only play either Tests or limited-overs
matches to create a window for India.
According to the FTP, West Indies are scheduled to host Pakistan from
the last week in June to the last week in July but they also have a
tri-series against India and Sri Lanka during that time. To avoid the
clash with Pakistan, the WICB had asked the PCB if their Caribbean tour
could be rescheduled to August. That, however, would interfere with the
PCB's hopes of hosting India, so Pakistan's West Indies tour had to be
split.
ESPNcricinfo understands that after the upcoming limited-over series in
India starting on December 25, the PCB is hoping to invite India to play
another series in Pakistan.
"The limited-over series isn't [just] what we wanted," a PCB official
said. "We wanted long-term bonding with India on reciprocal basis, and
to extend our relationship we will invite India to play a series next
year in August. We will find a way to at least keep the window open."
Cricket ties between Pakistan and India were put on ice following the
2008 terror attacks in Mumbai and the upcoming series will be the first
in four years.
Pakistan had also sought a postponement of its scheduled tour of
Zimbabwe later this month so that they can tour India. Pakistan were
scheduled to tour Zimbabwe before their South Africa visit in 2013, but
Zimbabwe Cricket agreed to put it off.
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