The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : England may play warm-up games in Pakistan

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Monday, Nov 21, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

England may play warm-up games in Pakistan

London: In a diplomatic snub showing displeasure to the tour itinerary for the upcoming series, England is considering to play its warm-up matches in Pakistan after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had turned down its demand for change in some of the Test and ODI venues.

The England team would play the two practice games in Pakistan before flying to Ahmedabad via New Delhi for the first Test, which begins on March 8 next year, Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.

England will reject both warm-up venues in Jamshedpur and Agartala even if the itinerary is confirmed at the BCCI meeting on November 29 and 30, the paper said quoting an England source.

It also said Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) media co-ordinator Col. Naushad Ali has confirmed that England had made an approach for such warm-up matches to the PCB.

ECB's demand

Meanwhile, in Faisalabad, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director of operations John Carr on Sunday said they had asked the BCCI to consider making venue changes for the tour.

"We have told them that, out of 10 matches, it is disappointing to be visiting only one out of Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi,'' Carr told reporters.— UNI

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