Lord's could rescue Pakistan

England could stage Tests and one-day internationals between Pakistan and Australia.

Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, floated the idea of grounds like Lord's coming to the rescue if countries refuse to tour Pakistan because of safety fears.

Now Tim Lamb, Speed's equivalent at the England Cricket Board, has confirmed that "any approach would be considered".

New Zealand quit their tour of Pakistan six weeks ago when a bomb exploded near to them in Karachi and it is widely assumed Australia will soon cancel a trip scheduled for late summer.

Pakistan have already switched one home Test series - against the West Indies - to Sharjah but crowds for those matches were pitifully small. But it would be a different story in England with any games between Pakistan and world champions Australia likely to attract big crowds.

"We have to get countries to look at other options," said Speed, who wondered out loud about the possibility of Pakistan and Australia meeting at Lord's.

"We've not had an approach from Pakistan," said Lamb. "But we would consider it if they did."