The West Indies has canceled the proposed two-Test series against Pakistan at a neutral venue but will go ahead with three limited-overs internationals in Abu Dhabi next month, a senior Pakistan Cricket Board official said Tuesday. “We have received an e-mail in which the West Indies Cricket Board has said that they are unable to accept the invitation (for the Test matches) because the time is too short for the series,” PCB Director General Salim Altaf said. The three One-Day Internationals between Pakistan and the West Indies will be played in Abu Dhabi as per schedule next month, he said. The West Indies is scheduled to tour New Zealand for two Test matches and five limited-overs internationals from Dec. 11. Altaf said that during an International Cricket Council meeting in December, officials from the West Indies Cricket Board and the PCB would meet and see whether the proposed two Test matches could be slotted into the ICC's Future Tour Program sometime next year. “At the moment we are now concentrating on hosting India early next year after playing three ODIs against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi,” Altaf said. India is scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals between Jan. 4-Feb. 19. The postponed Test series against the West Indies means that Pakistan will end 2008 without playing a single Test match. The eight other active Test playing nations – India, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England, New Zealand and South Africa – have all played Test matches during this time. This year, Pakistan blanked lowly-ranked Zimbabwe and Bangladesh 5-0 in two limited-overs series at home but failed to qualify for the Asia Cup final at Karachi in July. Australia – which has not played a Test match in Pakistan for 11 years – postponed its scheduled tour to Pakistan in March due to security reservations while September's Champions Trophy was also postponed after participating teams expressed security concerns. Australia is now expected to tour Pakistan for five ODIs in April 2009, while the ICC rescheduled the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September and October next year. – AP __
