Pakistan set for hectic time

The non-stop itineraries for Pakistan and India are set to continue after it was confirmed that they will play each other later this year and there'll be more offshore matches between the two countries.

The Indian board has sent Pakistan a draft itinerary for their tour, which is trying to be squeezed in before India head to Australia in mid-December. Pakistan's tour of India was cemented after Pakistan and Australia agreed to play a series in Pakistan from early March 2008.

Saleem Altaf, the PCB's director of cricket operations, said the PCB had asked the BCCI to cut down on the amount of traveling involved in the tour after problems during the 2005 visit.

"We will sort out everything soon and hopefully this time the travelling distances would not be like last time," said Altaf before explaining about the offshore ODIs. "We have a verbal agreement with the Indian board to play them in minimum 12 or 15 one-dayers at off shore venues over the next five years. We want to move forward on that."

He added Pakistan would tour India from November 2, immediately after Australia completed a one-day series of seven matches in October. The Australians would then tour Pakistan from March 9, 2008 after which the Asia Cup will be held from April 24. Pakistan would also host South Africa from September 25 this year and Zimbabwe for three one-dayers in January 2008.