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Pakistan to host India in early 2009

May 13, 2008 22:09 IST

Pakistan will host three top teams in the first quarter of 2009 with India touring in January-February to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the board said after a governing body meeting in Islamabad that all the tours had been confirmed by the concerned cricket boards.

He said after India's tour, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for a one-day series in early April and then Australia for five one-day internationals from April 23 before the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

"Australia are coming and will allow us to improve our financial position which has been termed as healthy and strong by the governing body members today," Dr Nasim Ashraf said.

The board has come under severe scrutiny from the Senate standing committee on sports and culture for its extravagant spending.

But Ashraf disagreed and said the board was an independent sports body and did not take any grants from the government. 

Our financial position was discussed threadbare today by the board members who are satisfied with the overall position," Ashraf said.

"Pakistan had an income of around USD 7.5 million held up due to the postponement of Australia's tour last month because of security reasons. But that money is not lost and we will make it when Australia come."

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