Itinerary finally confirmed

Barely three days before India arrive for a six-week tour encompassing three Tests and five ODIs the itinerary has belatedly been finalised. The venues for the first two one-day internationals have been switched again, now back to their original locations but a larger gap has been created between the first two matches. Peshawar will now host the first game on February 6 and Rawalpindi the second on February 11.

The original itinerary suggested by the PCB had Peshawar scheduled for February 6 and Rawalpindi, February 8. Following a request by authorities in Rawalpindi, however, the venues were switched. But switching Peshawar to February 8 was also problematic and the provincial government wrote to the PCB saying they could not provide adequate security on the day. A PCB official told Cricinfo the problem was the date, February 8.

Ashura, a day of religious significance on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram is likely to fall either on February 7, 8 or 9. Traditionally, extra security is deployed in cities during the period and so, said the official, "we have avoided that date altogether. Peshawar was always ok with the 6th, as was Rawalpindi. That day is a problem for both cities so we have taken it out of the equation and instead put in a larger gap before the second ODI."

The dates for the third and fourth matches, at Lahore and Multan, have also been altered with the games now taking place on February 13 and 16. The BCCI have also agreed to this itinerary change, one which the PCB official was quick to confirm, would be the final one. "There will be no more changes now, this has finally been agreed upon and we are set to go."

The Test matches remain untouched which means after weeks of the PCB strongly hinting but the BCCI not actually confirming it, Karachi's place as a Test venue - with even more security - has been secured. Since 9/11 this will be only the third Test to be held at the National Stadium, but by far the most significant, given that the other two opponents were Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.