The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ejaz Butt has said that he had a constructive talk with the Emirates Cricket Board officials and the proposed ODI series against New Zealand would be held this year.

Butt, who is in London, told Geo Super that he would officially announce the venues for the series of four One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches on Monday after returning home.

“The venues, 90 per cent, would be Abu Dhabi and Dubai once again,” Butt said.

New Zealand had refused to tour Pakistan for the scheduled series in October this year because of the volatile security situation in Pakistan.

However, they agreed on the suggestion to play the ODI matches at neutral venues and host the three Tests in New Zealand in November-December.

Pakistan had already played a One-day series with Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in April-May this year.

Butt visit to Emirates came after differences erupted over the hosting fees being demanded by the Abu Dhabi and Dubai cricket bodies.

After meeting with the Emirates board officials, Butt travelled to London where he held two rounds of talks with Giles Clarke who heads the Wales and English cricket Board and also leads the special task force of the International Cricket Council formed to explore possibilities for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

“I have had some constructive talks with Giles Clarke as well regarding our tour to England next year and also on matters pertaining to revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” Butt said.

“We discussed three to four points but since these matter is confidential, I can’t give out the details as yet,” he added.

Sources close to Butt said that during the meeting, the possibility of convincing India to resume bilateral ties with Pakistan with a One-day series in England next year was also explored.

The England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday scrapped the 50-over format from its domestic cricket calendar for the 2010 season, claiming that ICC will review the future of ODIs after the 2011 World Cup.

The revised domestic structure, finalised after a 12-month detailed discussion with the first-class counties, now comprise four-day matches, enhanced Twenty20 competitions and 40-over leagues, which would be played only on Sundays.

The first-class counties voted 13-5 to adopt a revised domestic structure.

“The board acknowledged that the members of the International Cricket Council will themselves be reviewing the future of 50-over cricket after the 2011 World Cup and felt that an increased programme of England Lions matches should be developed in parallel to the first-class counties decision to revise the domestic structure,” ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said in a statement.

“Directors of cricket and coaches reported through their county votes, that the leading one-day team in world cricket, South Africa, do not mirror 50 overs at domestic level and that, provided powerplays and fielding restrictions were the same as the international format, the skills required were very similar,” Clarke said.

However, England and England Lions will continue to play 50-over cricket internationally until the ICC review is complete.

The domestic limited-overs competition, to be staged in a 40-over format, will be played mainly on Sunday afternoons throughout the season, consisting of three pools of seven teams with six home and six away matches, progressing to a semi-final and final in September.

The powerplays and fielding restrictions will be the same as per international cricket.

The ECB also decided that the LV County Championship would be a two-division competition of eight home and eight away matches from 2010-2013.

The enhanced Twenty20 competition will be played in pools of nine teams on a geographic basis (North vs South) with the top four teams qualifying for the quarter-finals from each pool from 2010-2013.

England have been given a huge boost ahead of next week’s Ashes decider with the announcement that key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is set for a farewell to Test cricket at the Oval.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement issued on Monday said swelling on his right knee injury had “significantly eased”.

Flintoff was ruled out of the fourth Test at Headingley, where England were thrashed inside three days by an innings and 80 runs, because of his longstanding knee injury.

England, with the series all square at 1-1, must win at the Oval – where the fifth Test starts on August 20 – to regain the Ashes, while Australia need only a draw to retain them.

But if their talismanic all-rounder is in the side, home fans will dream of a fairytale finale for both Flintoff and England.

An ECB statement said: “Andrew Flintoff’s right knee injury was reviewed today (Monday) by his specialist in conjunction with the ECB and Lancashire CCC medical teams.

“The advice received was the swelling in his knee has significantly eased following the decision by the England management team to rest him from the last Test match and that, subject to further rest and intensive treatment, he will be available for selection for the fifth npower Ashes Test at the Brit Oval.”

England took the controversial decision to leave out the 31-year-old all-rounder, the bowling star of their 115-run second Test win at Lord’s and top-scorer in the drawn third Test at Edgbaston, from their fourth Test side because of concerns his knee injury would prevent him seeing out the game.

In pace bowler and hard-hitting batsman Flintoff’s absence, England were humiliated at Headingley. To make matters worse, fast bowler James Anderson sustained a hamstring injury.

But the ECB said Flintoff’s Lancashire colleague was also set to be available at the Oval.

“James Anderson also underwent a scan on his hamstring, which was clear,” their statement said.

“As there is no evidence of a significant tear, it is anticipated that he will also be available for selection for next week’s final Test.”

Flintoff, the star of England’s 2005 Ashes series win, has had an injury-blighted career and he said before the match at Lord’s that this would be his final Test series.

Andrew Chandler, Flintoff’s agent, was adamant his client could have played at Headingley, telling Monday’s edition of The Times: “He told them he was fit enough to get through… They didn’t want him.

“What they didn’t take into account during Thursday’s practice was that there was no adrenalin. He was hurting at Lord’s but the adrenalin got him through. It would have got him through this week as well.”

There were only three days between the end of the Edgbaston Test and Friday’s start at Headingley and England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters after stumps on Sunday: “Hopefully we’re in a better situation to get a result earlier for the final Test.”

Flintoff’s absence always causes a headache for England as they must then decide whether to play an extra bowler or an additional batsman.

At Headingley, they brought in another quick in Stephen Harmison only to be dismissed for 102 in their first innings on Friday after Strauss won the toss and elected to bat.

“When you haven’t got an all-rounder in that number six or seven spot it is always a problem and one we are going to have to face up to because Flintoff is retiring from Test cricket,” England coach Andy Flower, speaking after the end of the Headingley Test and before Monday’s announcement, said.

“That is a problem because we seem to be either light on the batting side or the bowling side.

“We will have to make a decision for the Oval – if he is not fit – where we put our strength.”

Flintoff, despite missing out at Headingley, remains second in England’s series batting averages, behind Strauss, with 171 runs from five innings in three matches at an average of 42.75 and a best, made at Edgbaston, of 74.

But he has taken just seven wickets in the series at an expensive average of nearly 49, with most of those coming in his match-winning burst at Lord’s of five for 92.

Anderson is England’s joint leading wicket-taker in the series, alongside Stuart Broad, with 12 wickets at 38.91 and a best of five for 80 at Edgbaston.

But, hampered by his injury, Anderson’s 18 wicketless overs at Headingley cost 89 runs.

Australia quicks Ben Hilfenhaus (18), Peter Siddle (16) and Mitchell Johnson (16) have all taken more wickets in the series so far than Anderson and Broad.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the remaining three Ashes Tests against Australia after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday.

Pietersen has struggled with the problem throughout the opening two Tests of the Ashes series and, after being assessed by a leading specialist on Wednesday, it was decided that surgery was the best option.

The 29-year-old has been ruled out for six weeks and he admitted it was massive blow to be sidelined while England, who lead the series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Lord’s, try to regain the Ashes.

“As an England cricketer the Ashes are the pinnacle of the game so I’m absolutely devastated to be missing the rest of this series,” Pietersen said.

“Up until now the Achilles injury has been manageable but it recently reached the point where we needed to look at other options in terms of treatment.

“I hate missing matches for England and especially during an Ashes summer but now that the decision has been made to undergo surgery I’m confident I can return to the England team injury-free following a course of rehabilitation.”

Pietersen, whose top score in the series was just 69, had hoped to play through the pain barrier for the rest of the series, but ECB Chief Medical Officer Nick Peirce admitted it was impossible to expect him to produce top-class performances while he was in so much discomfort.

“Following a consultation, involving scans and testing, with the world’s leading Achilles specialist Kevin Pietersen underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon,” Peirce said in an ECB statement.

“Kevin will look to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation programme to ensure there is no risk of recurrence. This is expected to be approximately six weeks but will be taken at an appropriate pace following constant review.

“Despite conventional conservative treatments to the tendon with trial periods of rest and rehabilitation, Kevin continued to be in significant discomfort and is currently unable to run or even walk comfortably.

“He had a strong desire to get through the Ashes series but despite this he has recently been unable to achieve a maximum level of performance.

“A number of short-term measures were considered but having been reviewed by the specialist, who flew into London from Sweden specifically, it was felt that anything else would put the tendon at risk and jeopardise his long term recovery.”

Although Pietersen, who originally suffered the injury against the West Indies earlier this year, played in the 115-run victory over Australia at Lord’s, he spent lengthy spells off the field and was clearly in pain when running.

He needed pain-killing injections to get through the match but the problem has got even worse after the heavy wear and tear of a five-day Test.

“I was pleased with the previous course of treatment as it allowed me to take part in this Ashes series but unfortunately the injury has recently deteriorated,” Pietersen said.

“To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heartbreaking but it wouldn’t be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury.

“I’ll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the brilliant win at Lord’s and reclaim the Ashes.”

Pietersen’s absence is a massive blow to England’s hopes of holding onto their series lead. Andrew Strauss’s side are already keeping their fingers crossed that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff can make it through the rest of the series.

Flintoff is struggling with a knee injury that has forced him to announce his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is likely to come into contention as one of the main contenders to replace Pietersen.

England will host two Test matches and two T20 internationals between Pakistan and Australia in 2010, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday.

Pakistan is currently unable to host international cricket because of security concerns, which were heightened following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March in Lahore.

The matches will take place in July 2010.

The ECB also announced that England will take on Pakistan in four Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals in England in August and September of next year.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: “The Pakistan team performed outstandingly well in the World T20 tournament in England and were worthy world champions. The passion of the support for their team in England demonstrated why this country is an ideal venue for these matches against Australia.

Clarke has agreed to serve as chairman of a task force set up by the International Cricket Council to devise ways of helping the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to maintain its international fixture schedule.

Clarke said: “The Pakistan Cricket Board is faced with a very challenging situation at present and ECB in its role as a member of the global cricket community is keen to offer PCB all possible assistance at such a difficult time. I am delighted to take on this role and will be liaising closely with my colleagues at PCB in the coming weeks and months.”

He added: “The warm relations between our two Boards has developed further under the leadership of the current PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, with whom I enjoy an excellent working relationship, and ECB is delighted to support Pakistan in staging these matches.”

Giles Clarke was formally re-elected as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, despite criticism of his role in getting the England team embroiled with Allen Stanford, the Texas businessman accused of a nine-billion-dollar fraud.

Clarke’s re-election had been assured since his only challenger, Jonathan Marland, withdrew from the race earlier this month after managing to secure the backing of only two of the 18 first-class counties.

Marland, who had been critical of the ECB’s links to Stanford, may have fared better had the initial vote taken place after the Texan was charged with fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

That emerged last week and prompted the ECB to terminate all its contracts with Stanford, ending plans for further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua and regular international quadrangular Twenty20 events in England, the first of which was due to be played at Lord’s in May.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier revealed on Sunday that he and Clarke had discussed their positions in the wake of the Stanford revelations but insisted they had never considered resigning.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said on Friday it had terminated its contracts with the financial group headed by Texas billionaire Allen Stanford.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board today served notice that it was terminating, with immediate effect, its contracts with the Stanford group and would therefore not be proceeding with any further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua or the Stanford-sponsored international Quadrangular Twenty20 events in England.”

Stanford has been accused of an $8 billion fraud and was served with a formal complaint by FBI agents in Virginia on Thursday.

An unsuitable outfield forced the abandonment of play on the opening day of the second Test between West Indies England after 45 minutes on Friday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Play was called off following talks between players, umpires and Alan Hurst, the match referee, with England at 7/0.

West Indies bowlers were finding it difficult to keep their footing on an outfield covered in sand after rain.

Discussions are taking place to determine whether the problem ground can be repaired or whether the Test will have to be relocated to another venue.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke commented: “The ECB is committed to playing this Test match in Antigue once the ground is safe.”

West Indies lead the four-Test series 1-0, after they bowled out England for their third-lowest total in Tests of 51 in the second innings of the opening Test at Kingston to post an innings and 23-run victory inside four days.

The other two Tests in the series take place in Barbados from February 26 to March 2, and in Trinidad from March 2 to 6.

Texan billionaire Allen Stanford has scrapped the winners-take-all Super Series but is negotiating with England and Wales Cricket Board for an annual quadrangular tournament at Lord’s, media reports said.

‘The Daily Telegraph’ claimed Stanford is in the advanced stage of negotiation for a new agreement which would replace the existing USD 100 million five-year deal he had signed with ECB last year.

Both Stanford and ECB would require the backing of Professional Cricketers’ Association to push it through and PCA chief executive Sean Morris is against discussing the issue with the players who are busy salvaging pride in the West Indies.

“It is imperative we get to the bottom of what the benefits are to English cricket and we would like longer to look at the deal than we had last time,” Morris told the daily.

“We are in friendly negotiations with the ECB and we will take it to the players at the appropriate time. At the moment they are fully focused on the Test series and we do not want to distract them from that,” he said.

Former Australia World Cup winning coach John Buchanan is being targetted by England and Wales Cricket Board to guide Andrew Strauss and Co in this year’s Ashes series.

ECB managing director Hugh Morris heaped praise on Buchanan, who is currently coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

England, without a coach after Peter Moores was sacked, suffered a humiliating innings and 23-run defeat to the West Indies in the first Test and officials are desperate to arrest the slide with the Ashes series round the corner.

“John Buchanan of Australia has won 75 per cent of matches at all levels, far more than anyone in the history of the game,” said Morris, adding that the ECB would shortly advertise for a performance director.

“We are looking for the best man for the job, someone who can create a positive atmosphere for the team, manage people well, manage coaches well, perhaps coach as well, and I’m confident we will find the right person to do that.”

Asked whether Buchanan needs to apply or he would be sought out by the board, Morris said, “Initially, we’ll open the process up. We would like it in place for the Ashes but it is most important to get the right man,” he was quoted as saying by the ‘Daily Mail’.