Tri-nation series for quake victims proposed

Bitter rivals Pakistan and India are likely to play in a tri-nation one-day cricket series for the victims of last Friday's earthquake in western India.

Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) chairman Jaghmohan Dalmiya said on Thursday that the proposed series would be played between February 8 and 11, probably in Sharjah.

"Bangladesh has confirmed participation in the Earthquake Relief Series, while we have assurance from Pakistan as well," Dalmiya told Reuters by telephone from Lahore, capital of Pakistan's Punjab province.

"But the appearance from India is subject to government clearance."

At least 20,000 people perished in India's worst earthquake. It also hit Pakistan, where 12 people were killed.

"All the income from the series would go to the earthquake relief," said former International Cricket Council president Dalmiya, who is in Pakistan for the annual ACF meeting held in Lahore on Thursday.

India have refused to play Pakistan in one-to-one series but have not objected to playing their arch-rivals in tournaments in which more than two teams are involved.

India cancelled a three-test series and a five-match one-day series in Pakistan earlier this year.

Dalmiya said the ACF also finalised the schedule of the Asia Cup one-day tournament and Asian Test Championship, which was first held in 1999.

"Bangladesh will host the final of the Asian Test Championship which would run between September 2001 and January 2002," he said.

"The gap has been maintained to allow the participating teams to fulfil their international commitments."

He said the Asia Cup would either be played in March/April 2002 or September 2002 in Pakistan at more than one venue.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will participate in the Test Championship while two qualifiers from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will join the test nations in the one-day competition.

Mail Cricket Editor