'Pakistan not to play in any tri-series'

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan says the board is not interested in playing the Abu Dhabi tri-series.

Conflicting signals continued to emerge from Pakistan Cricket Board with regard to the Abu Dhabi tri-series, with Chairman Shaharyar Khan saying the board had changed its mind and was not interested in playing the proposed series in September.

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Shaharyar said since the players wanted proper rest between each series, especially with the World Cup approaching, the Board had decided to give them a much needed break after their return from England.

"The exact situation is that we have told them (Indian and Australian cricket board) we will not play as we don't want to put a huge strain on our players who are facing a hectic schedule before the World Cup," the PCB chief was qouted as saying in The News on Friday.

He said the proposal was floated by Australia and India, who were keen to play a tri-series before the Champions trophy in Abu Dhabi but this was not possible anymore.

"Australia were very keen as they wanted to play a one-week event before going to India for the Champions Trophy. But we have to think of our players. We don't want any of them to burn out before the World Cup.

"The players also requested us to give them proper rest before the Champions Trophy. So we changed our mind. Now we've told them we can't play in this tri-series anywhere."