The Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Tim Lamb, today responded to media comment regarding the length of Pakistan's current tour to England.

He said: "It is completely wrong to suggest that the ECB's decision to host two npower Test Matches against Pakistan this summer reflects poorly on the tourists.

"Our original plan for this summer was to play a six-Test Ashes series against Australia only. However, following our new broadcasting deal with Channel Four and Sky in 1998, we agreed to expand the international match programme to seven Test Matches per summer and introduce a triangular one-day tournament, the NatWest Series.

"This enabled us to extend an invitation to another international side and the Pakistan Cricket Board readily accepted our offer to play two npower Tests this summer and take part in the NatWest Series.

"It would not have made cricketing or commercial sense for us to play a seven-Test series against one country and we firmly believe that the current international match programme is in tune with what cricket fans want.

"It should also be stressed that Pakistan's tour this year was originally intended to be an additional tour over and above the visit Pakistan were due to make here in 2004 under the previous touring programme. This has now been overtaken by the new ICC Test Cricket World Championship whereby each country has to play each other twice home and away during a five-year period and, as a consequence, Pakistan will now not tour here in 2004.

"I can reassure Pakistan supporters that the ECB has the utmost respect for their team's ability. They are one of the most exciting sides to watch in world cricket and we will be looking to play a minimum of three Test Matches and possibly four when Pakistan are next due to tour here again in 2006."

© ECB