ECB invites Pakistan

Cricket-starved Pakistan has got a rare invitation from England for a Test series and negotiations are already under way, a senior official said Thursday.
Pakistan have not played any Tests this year after Australia postponed a full tour over security fears.
They had not been scheduled to visit England in the Future Test Programme (FTP) until 2011, but now have a chance in 2010.
"We are keen to play a series in England so we will be holding negotiations soon with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to sort out financial arrangements," the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Saleem Altaf said.
Pakistan are likely to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international, he added.
If the tour goes ahead it will give Pakistan the chance to compensate the ECB for the losses suffered during the controversial Oval Test on the team's last tour to England in 2006.
The ECB demanded compensation of 800,000 pounds (1.30 million dollars) from the PCB for lost revenue after umpires awarded the match to England on forfeit following the Pakistan team's decision to boycott on the fourth day.