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Karachi: Pakistan might end up playing their ODI series against New Zealand later this year in the United States or Malaysia if negotiations with cricket authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai don't bear fruit.
A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official said on Friday that New Zealand had proposed playing the series in Malaysia or in the United States.
"These are available options for us although our first preference is to have the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," the official said.
New Zealand were due to tour Pakistan in October-November to play a Test and ODI series but later denied to travel the trouble torn country due to security concerns.
New Zealand Cricket have, however, agreed to split the series into two parts. Play the ODI series at neutral venues in October-November and the Test series in New Zealand in November-December.
PCB chairman Ejaz Butt recently returned from Emirates where he held meetings with cricket officials in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for holding the New Zealand series.
But Butt also confirmed that while the Abu Dhabi cricket council had asked for reasonable money to host the matches the Dubai Sports City were asking for a phenomenal amount which is difficult for already cash-strapped PCB.
"But today I have got a message from the Dubai people saying they are ready to renegotiate with us the terms and conditions for holding the series," Butt said.
"They will visit Lahore next week for a meeting to finalise details. I am hopeful we can finalise venues in next 10-days. If things don't work out with authorities in the Emirates then we will consider having the series in Malaysia or the United States," Butt added.
Another board official confirmed that the England and Wales Cricket Board are also willing to send their 'A' team to Dubai to play five one-day games against the Pakistan 'A' team this year.
International teams have stopped touring Pakistan after the Sri Lankan squad came under attack by militants in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen were killed and six players were injured in March.
