Karachi: Pakistan faces host Kenya in the opening match of next month's cricket tri- series, which was shifted to a neutral venue over security fears in Pakistan, officials said on Tuesday.
World champion Australia, which cited security concerns over playing in Pakistan, is the third team in the competition to be held in Nairobi from August 29 to September 7. Australia plays in the second match of the tournament against Pakistan on August 30. The top two teams meet in the final on September 7. The Australian Cricket Board has approved the itinerary and Pakistan and Australian officials will visit Nairobi to oversee the final arrangements later this week, Pakistan Cricket Board director Chishty Mujahid said. The tri-series, originally scheduled to be held in Karachi, was shifted after two bomb blasts in the Southern port city in May and June killing 26 people. New Zealand declined to play in Kenya earlier this month saying it wanted to save players from burn out before the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.
