Associated Press

Islamabad, February 18:

Pakistan’s cricket board accepted an Indian proposal to play a limited-overs match in Ahmadabad instead of a Test, resolving a dispute over venues which had raised fears of a delay to the national team’s first Test tour of its rival neighbour, an official said.

“Yes, we have accepted the Indian offer to play ODI in Ahmadabad,” said a PCB official. He gave no other details and said only that PCB will issue a statement later. The cricket board this week said it would not send its team to Ahmadabad to play a five-day Test, despite Indian officials’ assurance that security would be adequate.

At one point, speculations also spread that Pakistan might cancel the Indian tour. However, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, after talks with Indian Minister for External Affairs Natwar Singh on Th-ursday, agreed to send the team. Pakistan is scheduled to play three Tests and five limited-overs international matches during its tour of India, starting March 4.

Akhtar pulls out

LAHORE:

Shoaib Akhtar pul-led out of Pakistan’s upcoming tour of India saying it would take him at least a month to recover from a hamstring injury. His pull-out will further weaken a depleted Pakistan bowling attack with two other frontline pacemen, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, already ruled out of the tour. Akhtar denied the decision was linked to a $500 fine handed down by the PCB on Thursday. — AFP