The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Islamabad

The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman will go to India later this month in a bid to save India's scheduled tour to Pakistan early next year.

"The chairman (Ejaz Butt) PCB will meet officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later this month and convince them to tour Pakistan," PCB's chief operating officer Salim Altaf said Saturday.

India is scheduled to tour Pakistan and play three test matches, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international during its Jan. 4-Feb.19 tour to Pakistan.

The BCCI is awaiting a security assessment from the Indian government, which earlier this month stopped India's hockey team going to India on security grounds. Altaf said an Indian security delegation will visit Pakistan, most likely early next month.

"We are very much optimistic that the (cricket) tour will go ahead as planned," Altaf said.

Altaf said the PCB has begun talks to organize the series in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates should India refuse to tour Pakistan.

"We have these three alternate venues in mind to organize the series," Altaf said.

Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also said earlier this week that he would talk to his Indian counterpart in an effort to save the tour.

Pakistan has not played a home test this year due to security grounds. Australia cancelled its tour, while the Champions Trophy one-day tournament was also postponed.

The PCB also agreed a $140.5 million five-year television contract with Taj Entertainment Network - also known as Ten Sports.

"It is an excellent deal for a period of five years and starts with the home series against India," Altaf said.

"The process of bidding is based on optimum situation which is that all teams will tour Pakistan as per schedule and if teams do not come to Pakistan we have the option of playing at the neutral venue."