PCB: Tests Come Before IPL

Malik - one of the Pakistanis playing in the IPL.

The Pakistan Cricket Board insist the Indian Premier League won't take precedent over the series against Australia next year.

The series was originally set to take place in April this year, but the tour was rescheduled to next year after the Australians refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.

Next season's IPL is set to take place between April 10 to May 29 while the Aussies' trip to Pakistan is also pencilled in for April and May.

The PCB say players won't be allowed to take part in the IPL should it clash with the Australian series.

"We don't see any confrontation with the players over the clash of dates of the IPL with the Australian tour," PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghm told PTI.

"IPL is a domestic tournament. International commitments take precedence over the domestic tournaments and IPL is no exception.

"We will work strictly under a principle which has been decided at the International Cricket Council level. Obviously the home series against Australia is very important for us and nothing will take precedence over it."