PAKISTAN LISTS MALAYSIA AS NEUTRAL OPTION FOR INT'L CRICKET

NEW DELHI, April 14 (Bernama) -- Pakistan has identified Malaysia as a
likely neutral venue for its international cricket series as foreign teams are
reluctant to play in Pakistan due the looming security risks.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Muhammad Ijaz Butt said Malaysia,
which hosted the DLF Cup triangular one-day series involving Australia, India
and West Indies, could be a potential alternative.

The DLF Cup was held at the Kinrara Oval Academyin September 2006.

"We have a number of alternatives before us, and we are investigating their
suitability as host venues.

"Kuala Lumpur, Ireland and Glasgow are among those. Nothing has been
finalised at this stage but we hope to make a decision in the next month," Butt
told Cricinfo, a leading cricket website.

England and United Arab Emirates are also on the PCB wish list and the
board is expected to finalise the neutral host for the Test and ODI (one-day
international) series which will be played for the next 12 months.

Since the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket team early last month, in
which several national players were injured when gunmen opened fire on a bus
taking them to the stadium, foreign teams had refused to go to Pakistan, fearing
for their safety.

With the deteriorating security situation in the country, the PCB is forced
to move international matches abroad.
-- BERNAMA