Pakistan's cricket chief on Tuesday said Rawalpindi has been dropped as a venue for the upcoming home series against India because the central city's stadium is not ready. “We will not be able to finish the renovation work that includes the relaying of the outfield, so the matches scheduled for Rawalpindi will be shifted to other cities,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said. Rawalpindi was scheduled to host the second of three Test series and the third match of the five limited-overs international match series. Butt said Faisalabad or Multan, due to host One-Day Internationals during the India series, were likely replacements. Rawalpindi's Pindi Cricket Stadium was also excluded from the list of venues for the Champions Trophy, which was to be held in September this year but was put off for 12 months due to security fears. Pakistan's main concern remains to convince India that issues over safety should not stop the tourists visiting. The Indian government's refusal to send its junior hockey team to Pakistan earlier this month raised fears that the cricket series might suffer the same fate. Cricketers' association Pakistan's cricketers have stepped up efforts to establish a professional association similar to ones in Australia, England and South Africa. Pakistan vice captain Misbahul Haq submitted a proposal with the constitution committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sports Ministry last week calling for cricketers to have their association. Misbah asked for it to be recognized by the board and necessary amendments to be made to the Constitution. Captain Shoaib Malik added his support on Tuesday: “There is nothing wrong with having a cricketers association which can look after the welfare and rights of the players,” he told reporters. Senior batsman Younis Khan said the association could ensure players were consulted in all important decisions. Previous attempts to constitute a recognized cricketers association in Pakistan have failed, however. The demand comes at a time when the PCB has indicated it could revise players' contracts to cope with the financial hardships it is facing due to foreign teams not touring Pakistan.
