Pakistan and Australian Cricket Boards are likely to finalise their next venue for the forthcoming series on Tuesday, it is learnt here. According to the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who is in Malaysia for the ICC meetings, none of the two venues, UAE and Malaysia, is ruled out yet. “We have the financial budget ready (from the Malaysia Cricket Board), if the series is to be hosted here and our people who went to UAE for inspection are likely to submit their report shortly”, he added. The PCB officials were authorised to sign the MoU, if satisfied with the UAE venues. However, the most disturbing news is that their chief, Dilawar Mani has stepped down. “It was a three year term and one should look forward”, Mani, the outgoing Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) chief said from Abu Dhabi. The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) have expressed concern about playing ODIs’ in the summer heat of UAE. “Yes, I do agree about the hot weather in UAE in August and September, but the players can still have late start-matches. It is upto the two boards to decide whether to play ODIs and Twnety20s or only the Twenty20 matches”, Mani, the brother of former ICC president Ehsan Mani further added. The PCB had concern about the rain during the period (Aug. 22-Sept. 10) when these matches are to be played. “We have only 20 % of chance of rain during this period. We have already submitted the statistics of rain during this period for last few years and also the report obtained from Meteorological Department”, Mahinda Vallipuram, the Vice President of the MCA said from Kuala Lumpur. The MCA official did meet the PCB official, Shubhan Ahmed on Saturday. He may meet the PCB chairman on this issue.
