Australia to tour Pakistan in 2009 and 2010

TOUR ANNOUNCED: Australian cricketers during the third Test against India in Perth in January 2008. Australia will visit Pakistan twice in the next two years to replace a March-April tour that was axed over security concerns, Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board said Monday.(AFP)

Australia will visit Pakistan twice in the next two years to replace a March-April tour that was axed over security concerns, Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board said Monday.

The two governing bodies said Australia will tour Pakistan in April-May 2009 and again in 2010.

This year's tour was postponed last month amid Australian security concerns following twin bomb blasts in the eastern city of Lahore, where Australia were due to play a Test and one limited-overs international.

The PCB has also confirmed it will go ahead with its tour to Australia in 2009-10 for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.

"The PCB is very pleased that the Australian team will come to play in Pakistan twice, in 2009 and again in 2010," PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said in the joint statement.

"Our discussions with Cricket Australia showed both countries' strong desire to ensure the postponed matches were played in Pakistan.

"As well as the two tours at home, the PCB has also confirmed the Pakistan team's tour of Australia for the 2009-10 season."

The 2009 tour of Pakistan will consist of five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international following the Australian team's commitments in South Africa.

Australia will then return to Pakistan in August-September 2010 to play three Test matches, with final dates and venues to be agreed depending on each nation's Future Tours Program (FTP) obligations with the International Cricket Council.

"Today's announcement demonstrates Cricket Australia's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Future Tours Program and also to Pakistan cricket," CA Chairman Creagh O'Connor said in the statement.

"We're pleased to have reached agreement to travel to Pakistan to complete the postponed matches and to play in them in Australia as agreed under the FTP."

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