Malaysia names venue for tri-series

All the matches in the proposed tri-series, involving India, Australia and, possibly, the West Indies, will be staged at the Kinrara Oval in Puchong, the Malaysian Cricket Association said.

Confirming the venues, MCA vice-president Mahinda Vallipuram said they are in a final round of talks over the co-hosting of the tournament along with Singapore.

"We are in the final rounds of negotiations to co-host the series, which is scheduled to take place in the second or third week of September," he was quoted as saying by Strait Times on Wednesday.

"All four matches will be played at the Kinrara Oval in Puchong, which is the home of Malaysian cricket," said Mahinda.

While the participation of India and Australia is confirmed, there are doubts if the West Indies would be a part of the series, which would serve as a lead-up to the Champions Trophy, to be hosted by India in October-November.

The tri-series will see each team play the other twice in the league stage from where the top two will advance to the final.  Singapore are expected to host three matches while the remaining four would be played in Kuala Lumpur.

The ground arrangements for the series will be organized by Cricket Australia while the Indian Cricket Board will handle the marketing and sale of television rights.

Kuala Lumpur had successfully hosted the sport in the 1998 Commonwealth Games as well as during the Asian Cricket Council Trophy in 2004.

Singapore has previously hosted three tri-series, the first in 1996 between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Padang and two in 1999 and 2000 at the new Kallang ground.