Tigers Likely To Fill In For Australia

Ashraf - grateful to Bangladesh.

The Pakistan Cricket Board have confirmed Bangladesh are likely to contest a one-day series in the country following Australia's withdrawal from their planned tour at the end of the month.

The PCB had a gap in their schedule following Cricket Australia's decision on Tuesday to postpone their tour to Pakistan due to concerns over security.

Pakistan has been rocked by spate of bomb blasts following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December - the latest of which came in Lahore just hours before Australia announced their decision not to tour.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have been offered the chance to play five one-day fixtures and one Twenty20 international next month, and PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf is hopeful that the series will go ahead.

He told the Dawn newspaper: "The response from Bangladesh is very encouraging for us and we thank Bangladesh for the gesture.

"The BCB will confirm the tour after completing the required procedure at home and I am hopeful of a positive reply from them."

Ashraf, who defended Pakistan's ability to stage major sporting events in the wake of the Australian pull-out, confirmed that they could only offer limited-over games to Bangladesh due to the last-minute nature of the arrangements.

"We need at least 18 days to hold two Tests and a three-day warm-up match, which may not be possible in such a short timeframe," he said.

"A one-day series will also prove beneficial as far as the commercial aspects are concerned."