Karachi, Aug 15: A Pakistani court today cleared the national cricket board to host next week's Test match against Bangladesh in the southern port city of Karachi, court sources said. Sindh High Court Judge Ataur Rehman ordered the parties to "maintain a status quo and set August 28 to hear the petition," they said.

The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) on Tuesday challenged a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision to withdraw its rights to host Tests and one-day matches, which had put the Karachi Test against Bangladesh starting from August 20 in jeopardy. KCCA filed the petition after the PCB last month decided to set up provincial cricket associations to organise cricket matches at district level, effectively ending the KCCA's rights to host Tests and one-day games.

It also announced that the Karachi Test against Bangladesh will be staged by the newly formed Sindh Cricket Association (SCA). KCCA rejected the decision calling it "unconstitutional" and challenged it in the court.

Pakistan also host South Africa for three Tests and as many one-day games in September-October and New Zealand for five one-dayers in November.

Bureau Report