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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is obliged to submit Justice Karamat Bhindari inquiry report to the International Cricket Council (ICC) next week. However, it was still not clear if the law ministry has forwarded the report to the cricket board.

Director of the PCB, Brig Munawwar Rana, who will attend the summit scheduled between June 24 and 29 at Lords, said from Lahore he hasn't seen the report.

"I haven't seen the report nor I know if it is with the PCB," he said, admitting that Pakistan was morally obliged to present the investigations at Lord's.

The chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, who was unavailable for comments, had said last month that he would first publicize the report before submitting it to the ICC.

"I have requested the ministry to allow permission to the PCB to release the report because if it doesn't, the ICC would once it (report) is submitted to them," he had said.

Justice Karamat Bhindari investigated the charges of Pakistan team deliberately throwing 1999 World Cup matches to Bangladesh and India. Initial reports say all the accused players have been found not guilty because of insufficient evidence.

The report was submitted to the ministry earlier this month by Justice Bhindari. But the report was returned, asking for more recommendations and clarity on publication of the report.

Rana said he would be meeting the PCB chairman in the next 48 hours in which certain issues will be discussed, along with Justice Bhindari's inquiry report.

"The PCB had promised to submit in the last meeting. So we are obliged," he said.

Rana said he would also be discussing the fate of Australia's tour in October which has been, all but cancelled after the latest bomb blast in Karachi on June 14 that left 14 killed. On May 8, 16 people were killed when a bomb exploded metres away from where Pakistan and New Zealand teams were staying.

The proposal that is being worked out at the moment is to reverse the series with Australia i.e. Pakistan tour Australia this October and Australia visit Pakistan in December 2004, according to ICC 10-year calendar. But Rana said it would be jumping to guns to say Pakistan would be playing the three-Test series in Australia. "It (proposal from Australia) has not come through officially yet," he said.

According to ICC conditions, the series, affected because of security reasons, can also be played on neutral territory and cancelled.

Australia, earlier this year, cancelled their tour to Zimbabwe and also refused to play at a neutral venue of South Africa because of security concerns. However, Pakistan, who have a history of playing in countries affected by law and order situations while also ignoring life threats, will be arriving in Harare on Dec 1 for two Tests and five one-day internationals.

Rana is due to meet his Australian counterpart James Suderland on Sunday in which primary discussions on the series will take place. "But the final decision will not be taken Sunday," Rana said.

© Dawn