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The quadrangular one-day tournament was finalized for March next year with an additional attraction of matches to be played in Pakistan and India.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said from London that while the series had been confirmed, he had proposed his Indian counterpart to share the league matches. "I have proposed to AC Muthiah to host four matches while we will stage six, including the final. I think it is an appealing proposal and should attract the sponsors, in general, and the public, in particular," Zia said Tuesday.

"We could have easily staged the entire tournament and kept all the profits. But we also want to involve the Indian public in the tournament which should be full of attraction and thrill," he said. Zia said he would not hesitate to send his team to India to play in any league matches of the competition that will also involve the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

"If the proposal is agreed and the draw suggests Pakistan should cross borders, I will send our team. We have never severed cricketing relations with India and twice send our teams in 1999." Zia had earlier this year threatened to sever ties with India after the traditional rivals cancelled a scheduled Test tour to Pakistan and then withdrew from April's Sharjah Cup because Pakistan was also one of the contestants.

New Delhi, nevertheless, in a face-saving attempt, said it has decided in principle that it would not allow its team to play on any non- regular venue for three years, a decision which stunned many in the background that Sharjah has staged the highest number of limited overs internationals. New Delhi further clarified that it had no problems with the cricket team playing Pakistan in multi-lateral tournaments but barred its team from facing Pakistan in a bilateral series. It was on the basis of this policy that Indian cricket officials agreed to send its team to Pakistan in September for the Asian Test Championship match. If the Test is played as planned, it would be India's first Test on Pakistan soil in almost 12 years.

The quadrangular tournament was in doubt after the West Indies decided against touring Pakistan as per 10-year schedule. The West Indians, nevertheless, reversed their decision and informed the Pakistan delegates in London that they would honour the commitment.

Zimbabwe becomes the fourth team as they would be touring India at the same time for a two-Test series. Zia, who also attended the annual general meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday, said he informed the house that he had no reasons to hold back or delay the 1999 World Cup inquiry. "But at the same time, I have stressed that England should reopen and ACU should investigate the allegations levelled by Chris Lewis during the 1999 England vs New Zealand series.

"I have also forced the ICC sleuths to inquire into allegations levelled by Dr Ali Bacher against Pakistan and its retired Test umpire Javed Akhtar. "Since he is the prime accuser, he should be grilled and asked to substantiate his allegations which we take it in a bad taste." Bacher accused Pakistan of deliberately throwing 1999 World Cup matches to India and Bangladesh and also alleged that Javed Akhtar was on the pay-roll of bookies after he gave nine leg before decisions in the Headingley Test in 1998 which gave England a 2-1 series win.

While Pakistan last month appointed a Lahore High Court judge to probe the allegations, Bacher told a South African inquiry that former PCB chief executive Majid Khan had passed on this information to him. He, however, admitted that he had no evidence to backup his claims.

Zia said although the ICC has approved all the 24 recommendations of anti-corruption unit, they will come into effect once Malcolm Speed takes over as ICC chief executive. Speed will take over from David Richards who is expected to vacate office in September. Zia also disclosed that Pakistan's permanent representative in the ICC, Ehsan Mani, would be the next ICC chairman in 2003.

"On the basis of rotation, it is Pakistan's turn to have its candidate as ICC chairman. We have nominated Ehsan Mani who received unanimous vote of confidence from the house. "I think today is a big day for Pakistan cricket whose candidate will head the ICC in 2003."

© Dawn