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The Pakistan cricket administrators, instead of trying to convince the Australians to visit this country in October, are once again toeing the old line of playing the series on neutral territory if the Aussies refuse to tour this part of the world in the backdrop of tension on the Pakistan border.

The world champions are scheduled to tour Pakistan between Oct 1 and 24 for three Tests. In August, Australia and New Zealand are to visit this country for a tri-nation one-day series.

Surprisingly, the repeated arguments that Morocco was a better option or there were improved facilities in Tangiers, betrays the promise of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

Gen Tauqir, earlier this year and after the home series against the West Indies had to be shifted to Sharjah, had promised that he would not allow it to become a precedent and would instead prefer to cancel the series rather than the team playing abroad.

Interestingly, cancellation of the series because of situation beyond control, is also one of the options the International Cricket Council (ICC) spelled out last week while confirming that the series can be reversed with mutual agreement between the two boards.

The proposal of reversing the series is a better suggestion in terms of condition awareness, Pakistan team's strength and logistics compared to the option of playing in Morocco or even in Sharjah where there will neither be spectators to watch the series nor will it be financially viable.

The Australian cricket season begins in October and if the series is played there, the Pakistani boys will be familiar with climatic and ground conditions, having played there before on a number of occasions. The neutral territory will be as alien to Pakistan as to Australia, thus the home advantage will be nullified.

Secondly, Pakistan, according to the 10-year ICC calendar, is scheduled to tour Australia in December 2004 and it is anybody's guess if players like Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and probably Inzamam-ul-Haq will be around by that time. Though, the quartet are not indispensable, they are surely difficult to replace.

The PCB officials will be wiser if they utilize their services at a time when these player are capable of delivering their best, instead of sending a team of inexperienced cricketers. Besides, there will be more motivation and possibly an element of revenge in the present lot, particularly after Wasim Akram's men were whitewashed in the three-Test series in 1999.

And last but not the least, the option of hosting Australia will remain there though the visit of the world champions would be delayed by two years. But that tour in 2004 will certainly help the establishment to generate revenues they can expect, besides the fact that cricket-crazy spectators in Pakistan will not be deprived of watching the Australians in action here.

If the Australians do decide to avoid touring Pakistan this October then their next tour of this country takes place way ahead in February 2008.

The issue of where the series should be played, if not in Pakistan, will most likely be discussed in London this month when all the heads of the cricket boards assemble for the annual ICC meeting.

Pakistan will be represented by director Brig Munawwar Rana who is certain to discuss the subject with his Australian counterpart, James Sutherland. However, Munawwar will need to show a lot of professionalism and grit to persuade Australia to exchange the series.

Pakistan has obliged a lot of cricket boards by agreeing to send its teams even in off seasons or on short tours. If there is anytime for Australia to reciprocate, it is this time. But before Australia makes a decision, the PCB requires to be more than certain that it is in the best interest of Pakistan to play the series Down Under rather than at a neutral venue.

© Dawn