The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Karachi

Pakistan's efforts to fill a gap in their cricket schedule received a setback today when India turned down an offer to play a short three-match one-day series next month, officials said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had invited India for a three-match one-day series starting from March 12 after Australia's tour was reduced to 30 days from a planned 48 days.

"The president of the Indian cricket board, Sharad Pawar, called up and spoke to the (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf explaining the tour was not possible due to a hectic schedule of the Indian team," PCB spokesman Ahsan Hameed Malik said.

The PCB last week said they received positive signals from India over a short series, but the off-schedule matches were always unlikely as India, currently playing a triangular series in Australia, host South Africa.

Indian players are also due to feature in the inaugural

Twenty20 Indian Premier League from April to June, making it hard to squeeze a week for the series against Pakistan.

The Indian Board has however promised to play a three-match series in Pakistan before the ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy, which Pakistan host in September and October this year.

The PCB now expects Australia to tour their troubled country despite security advice against playing here.

Australia are due to send a delegation to Pakistan to assess security arrangements before they confirm their tour which includes three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.

Cricket Australia earlier this month agreed to send a security delegation and delayed the start of the tour from March 10 to March 29.

After the result, Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful told the press that their batting debacle in the second innings cost them the match. " Our collapse in the second innings spoiled the chance of winning. Even this target was not very easy, but with little bit of luck and their professional attitude, South African managed to score the runs in a difficult condition."

" Another 90 or 100 runs would have been enough but our batters failed to prolonged their innings and almost everybody got out when they needed to stay at the wicket a little longer. Our bowlers were good in the first innings, but in the second innings we allow them South African easy singles, which ultimately made things easier for our rivals."

Bangladesh skipper was not happy with the wicket. He said,

"We were told this will be a spinners' track and it will start

turning from the third day. But instead the pacers had more

advantage and the nature of the wicket never changed. There was

hardly any advantage for our spinners. Despite that Shahadat was

superb and Mohammad Rafique supported him well "

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was excited to take the 1-0 lead. He said, " It is always wonderful to win the first test and take 1-0 lead in the series in such a hard fought win. Specially from the very difficult position in the first innings, we fought was back to win. It was total team spirit everyone and it has taken some time to get used to the conditions here when the pressure was on and it really counted the boys played well in the second innings."

" It is not easy for batters to enjoy batting in the sub-continent. Thanks to my teams for quickly getting acclimatizes to the local condition. Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Morne Morke and AB de Villiers were very impressive in this match. The win here will inspired us for the second test and the Indian series coming up".

Jacques Kallis for his 5 for 30 was adjudged as man of the match. He said, "It's nice to contribute with the ball. I put them in the right areas and got some reverse swing. The guys have been to subcontinent before and it's a learning curve for the young fast bowlers."