Reports on Ahmedabad are media speculation: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board described as 'media speculation' that it had reservations on Ahmedabad as a Test venue during the national team's forthcoming tour of India beginning later this month.

"The PCB has not said anything to the media on its reservations about Ahmedabad as a venue. It is all media speculation. We will convey our decision to BCCI after receiving a report from the PCB team that visited India," PCB spokesman Abbas Zaidi said in Islamabad on Wednesday.

On whether PCB has suggested Chennai as an alternative venue to Ahmedabad, he said so far no suggestion has been made.

"Chennai is remembered for Pakistan's nostalgic win during the 1999 tour, but right now we have not suggested any venue," he said.

Zaidi further said that the report from the two-member security and venue assessment committee that toured India is expected in a day or two.

"We have to look at the report and there are no differences between PCB and BCCI on the finalisation of venues. Things are being worked out smoothly," he said.

The PCB, he said, will take a decision only after the return of chairman Shaharyar Khan in a day or two from Dubai where he is attending the Asian Cricket Council meeting.

Meanwhile, a report in the local media said the venue inspection team, comprising PCB General Manager (Operations) Zakir Khan and Lahore SSP Sohail Khan had returned home unhappy with the reception extended to them at some of the proposed Test and one-day venues.

"From what we know, Zakir has conveyed his reservations to the PCB chief about the reception and co-operation they got at some venues," a source was quoted as saying in The News.

The team was particularly unhappy with the treatment they got when they visited the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi which is undergoing a massive facelift and is scheduled to host the fifth one-day international in April.

The source said because of the incomplete feedback, PCB may send the team again to India for an inspection just before the start of the tour on February 25.