PCB yet to decide venue for 'home' series against New Zealand

Lahore, Sep. 4 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still undecided regarding the venue of the 'home' one-day international series against New Zealand scheduled to be held in November.

While it was being speculated that the series would be held either in the UAE or Malaysia, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt said final decision in this regard would be taken after his meeting with the UAE authorities next week.

"I will meet a member of UAE team in Dubai on September 7 to take a decision on this matter," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

"I told them the rates for holding the ODI matches against Australia in Abu Dhabi in April this year were reasonable. Naturally, we don't want to incur a loss and I informed him to give us rates like that of Abu Dhabi," Butt added.

Speculations are that Pakistan might host New Zealand in the United States or Malaysia if the PCB fails to convince the UAE cricket authorities regarding hosting the matches in that country.

"These are available options for us although our first preference is to have the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," a PCB official said.

New Zealand was to tour Pakistan in October-November this year, but refused to visit the country citing deteriorating security conditions there.

Later, the New Zealand Cricket Board agreed to split the series into two parts.

It was decided that Pakistan would host the Kiwis in an ODI series at neutral venues in October-November and the Test series in New Zealand in November-December. (ANI)