Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has called on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to reconsider their decision not to tour Pakistan. Lloyd said that the proposal to play the series on neutral grounds was a far from satisfactory compromise. "No country would like to play its series on neutral venues," Lloyd told the AFP news agency from Karachi, where he is undertaking a brief coaching tour. "I hope both the Pakistan and West Indies boards talk to each other and settle the matter."

There have been mixed messages coming out of the WICB regarding the tour. Wes Hall, the president, has repeatedly said that there was no question of the trip going ahead but last week chief executive Gregory Shillingford said that the visit could still happen if political tensions in the region eased.

"The situation may be a little tense but a week or so after this may lead to improvement," Lloyd said. The West Indies are not scheduled to arrive in Pakistan until January 26.

Bangladesh have offered to host the three-match series should the Pakistan Cricket Board and WICB agree to play the series in a neutral country. "Bangladesh is being considered as one of the alternate third-country venues," said an unnamed PCB spokesman, "but our priority is for the tour to take place in Pakistan."

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