ICC to inspect Dutch venue before Pakistan-India-Australia series](http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040119/323/ejran.html)
KARACHI (AFP) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) is sending a delegation to the Netherlands to inspect a venue hosting a tri-series between world champions Australia and traditional rivals India and Pakistan, a Pakistani official has said.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) operations general manager Zakir Khan said he had been asked to join Indian cricket official Karunakaran Nair and Australia’s Richard Watson in the delegation heading to the Netherlands on January 28.
“The ICC has directed us to inspect the facilities at the venue in Amstelveen in the Netherlands before a tri-series involving Australia, Pakistan and India,” Khan told AFP on Monday.
Zakir said the series would be played in late August and early September in the Amstelveen, near the Dutch capital Amsterdam.
“It would be a great helping hand to cricket in the Netherlands which has been taking great strides in international cricket and watching giants like Australia, Pakistan and India would be unique for the Dutch (people).”
India, cleared by New Delhi in October to play Pakistan after a three-year ban on bilateral cricket, is also scheduled to tour Pakistan for their first tour in 14 years in March and April.
It has also agreed to play six one-day games – three each in Pakistan and India – later this year.
Australia, three-times winners of the World Cup, and India and Pakistan have featured in a tri-series just once – in Australia in 1999-2000.
Cricket Australia (CA), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB have agreed to feature in the event in August-September this year to tune up for the biennial ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in September.
CA, which turned down an offer to feature in a tri-series in Sharjah in either February or April this year, agreed to the Amstelveen series to compensate a cash-strapped PCB.
Pakistan suffered a cricket drought and financial losses to the tune of 25 million dollars since September 2001 attacks on the United States and the following war in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Australia refused to tour Pakistan for a tri-series in August 2002 and then for a Test series two months later and played at neutral venues.
The Netherlands has featured in two World Cups – 1996 and 2003 – and also staged a match between South Africa and Kenya played at Amstelveen in the 1999 World Cup held in England.
great news
