Lahore PCB choice for first Test

The first Test between India and Pakistan may commence from March 11.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) working committee meeting to be held in New Delhi today and tomorrow is set to give their final stamp of approval on the itinerary for the Pakistan tour.

According to a reliable BCCI source who spoke to the Gulf News, the BCCI officials will inform the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of their intention to have the first Test from March 11. The Indian tour of Pakistan was supposed to commence from March 5.

The approval for the venues by the Indian government is also being expected.

Meanwhile, the venue for the first Test is also under consideration. The PCB had requested that the first Test be held in Lahore but the BCCI is likely to suggest Faisalabad.

The second Test may be held in Multan. Another Test venue under consideration is Rawalpindi, as Karachi has now been rejected by India.

The BCCI will also give their approval for the One-day venues. The PCB wants India to play in Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

If Rawalpindi hosts the Test, the one-dayer may not be held there though the Indians would prefer to camp in nearby Islamabad.

India is not expected to raise any objections to having a One-dayer game in Lahore.

The Indian cricket board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya returned to India on Wednesday after attending the ICC meeting in London. The BCCI secretary S.K. Nair has also reached India following a tour of Holland, Australia and Dhaka.

Nair was in Holland to inspect facilities for a three-nation tournament and in Australia to finalise on Australia's tour to India this year end.

He visited Dhaka to attend the ICC Cricket Committee meeting.

A decision on whether the Indian team will require a conditioning camp before touring Pakistan and whether they need a new bowling coach will be taken in the next two days.