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Australia’s foreign minister has dismissed suggestions that his nation’s tour of Pakistan was scrapped because of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The world champions announced on Tuesday that they would postpone their tour of the troubled country, which has witnessed a spate of suicide bombings since the general election.

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This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .

Australia have agreed to tour Pakistan although the duration of the trip will be no longer than a month.

The two authorities have also agreed to delay the series to allow Cricket Australia officials the chance to assess venues and security arrangements.

Australia had been scheduled to tour from March 10, playing three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match.

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This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf has not ruled out a life ban for Shoaib Akhtar after his public criticism of the body.

Shoaib infuriated top PCB officials by refusing to reply after they asked the speedster for an explanation for his media outbursts against the board.

The 32-year-old had blasted the PCB for questioning his fitness on Pakistan’s tour to India in December last year.

Shoaib has now replied to the PCB but, as he remains on probation following his altercation with Mohammad Asif prior to the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last year, his punishment could still be stiff.

Ashraf said: “Shoaib has replied to the notice served to him on February 11 along with Danish Kaneria for openly criticising the PCB.

“Though I have yet to see that reply, Shoaib may face a life ban for his misconduct for which I may either take a direct decision or refer the case to the disciplinary committee.”

Ashraf confirmed the PCB have allowed Shoaib, who has no central contact, to take part in the Indian Cricket League.

This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .

The Pakistan Cricket Board have announced an additional 38 international games to fill gaps in their Future Tour Programme until 2010.

Pakistan’s FTP schedule for Tests and limited-over matches has been extended to incorporate further encounters with South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

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This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .

India one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds were among the players to attract big-money bids in the Indian Premier League player auction today.

Chennai paid US dollars 1.5million for Dhoni early on, while Symonds became the most expensive overseas player in the third round of bidding when Hyderabad forked out US dollars 1.35million for his services.

Retiring Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist attracted a bid of US dollars 700,000 from Hyderabad, who also acquired South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs and Pakistan spinner Shahid Afridi for US dollars 575,000 and 675,000.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi was surprised by the lack of interest in some players.

He said: “I haven’t had the opportunity to really judge player value before, but some of the players have gone so well, while some have gone for much less than I expected.

“Players like MS Dhoni and Andrew Symonds were bid aggressively (for) by all the tables.

This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf will seek help from the International Cricket Council if Australia pull out of their tour to the troubled country next month. Several Australian players have expressed their concerns over safety in Pakistan after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto last December.

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This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by S. M. Faisal .