Pak ready to play Test in Mumbai

The PCB chief had an hour-long meeting with K Natwar Singh and was confident of finalising all the venues today.

Pakistan on Thursday expressed its willingness to play a Test match in Mumbai and said that it would hold discussions with BCCI to resolve the differences over playing in Ahmedabad during the team's forthcoming tour of India.

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Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, who had an hour-long breakfast meeting with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, said the entire issue of finalising the venues would be sorted out on Thursday as time was running out.

"I will be speaking to BCCI officials today to sort out the issue relating to Ahmedabad," Shaharyar told reporters. "I am sure we will be sorting out the entire issue over the venues today as we have very little time left."

The PCB supremo also assured the minister that they will consider playing a One-Day International in Ahmedabad but the final decision would depend on government clearence.

"During the meeting, Shaharyar said that Pakistan has no objection to playing a Test match in Mumbai and may consider a one-dayer in Ahmedabad. But this would require clearance," Natwar Singh revealed on board the plane that took him from Islamabad to Lahore.

But the PCB chief side stepped the question saying he was not in a position to comment on the issue. "I can't say anything about it. We have reservations in going to Ahmedabad at all. But if the two boards agree we will see if that can be overcome."

Pakistan had expressed reservations over playing in Ahmedabad, which witnessed communal riots in 2002, citing security reasons.

Shaharyar said PCB had already conveyed its willingness about playing in Mumbai to its Indian counterpart.

Natwar Singh said he also told the PCB chairman that cricket and politics should not be mixed and left to the two cricket boards to decide.