IPL will not affect Australia’s Pak tour: PCB

“They will then tour in 2010 for the Tests,” Naghmi said.

Both boards announced yesterday that Australia’s postponed tour of Pakistan in March-April due to security reasons would now take place in two phases.

There are fears that the scheduled dates of Australia’s tour next year would clash with the IPL which would make it diffcult for the players to decide where they want to participate.

But Naghmi argued that the IPL schedule for 2009 was still to come out.

“But in any case, international commitment takes precedence over any domestic tournament. Even if it clashes with IPL, the Pakistan-Australia series will go on.

“The player’s first choice will be the Pakistan , Australia series ..and that’s the main difference between the Indian Cricket League and IPL,” Naghmi said.

He said the ICL doesn’t give the players a chance to play for their country when there is an international series going on while IPL provides them a chance to represent their country.

Naghmi also refuted suggestions that the Australians postponed their tour to Pakistan last month because their players were more interested in playing in the IPL.

“No I don’t think this angle is true. The truth is discussions between the two Boards had been going on for quite a while and the Australians were keen to complete the series in one go. But it didn’t happen.

“Even now both the Boards wanted to have the series in one go but the commitments of both teams didn’t make this possible. So we have split the tour after considering all other options,” Naghmi said.