MELBOURNE.

July 6 I AFP): Australia will attempt to equal the world record number of con-

secutive Test wins when they face up to the record holders, the West Indies, in Brisbane on November 23.

The Australian Cricket

Board confirmed its schedule Thursday for the 2000-01 season. including a five-Test series against the West Indies.

Australia must take the first

Test* to equal the West Indies' record of 1 1 consecutive wins, but the match will also be highlighted by the 40th anniversary of the Tied Test.

Australia and the West Indies fought out the first Tied Test in cricket history at the Gabba in the famous 1960-61 series featuring the likes of Richie Benaud and Wes Hall

If Australia win at the Gabba. they will head to Perth for the second Test on December 1 hoping to create a new record of 12 wins, passing the mark set by Clive Lloyd’s awesome West Indies team of the mid-1980s.

Steve Waugh's Australian team raced through last season in devastating style, sweeping Pakistan and India at home before another perfect run through New Zealand.

Zimbabwe will Join Australia and the West Indies for a triangular one-day series in January and February.

Tift West Indles Sqh ad arrives in Australia on November 3 ahead of the traditional tour opener against the Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill on November 7.

^'mbabwe open their tour wi day-night match against ia A in Brisbane on 12.

ECB puts forward India's tour fixture KARACHI. July 6: India will play three Tests and five one-day games in Pakistan from December under a tentative itinerary sent to New Delhi Thursday, said Pakistan

Cricket Board (PCB) director Ya war Saeed.

Saeed said the planned December 26 to February 12 tour had yet to be approved In (he Indians.

"We have sent the itinerary to our counterparts in India for approval It's a three Test and five one-day match series," Saeed told AFP.

He refused to comment on a controversy triggered by Pakistan team manager Mohammad Nasir's statement in Sri Lanka that the roots of match-fixing in cricket were in India.

"Indians are to blame for the match-fixing issue because all the bookies are from India." Nasir said in Colombo Monday-

The Indian cricket board reacted sharply to Nasir's statement and said it would protest

to the PCB. according to press reports here.

Saeed said the PCB was waiting for an International Cricket Council report on Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar, who was mentioned in last month's match-fixing inquiry in South Africa.

South African cricket chief All Bacher told the Inquiry that he had heard that Akhtar took bribes to influence the outcome of a Test between England and South Africa at Leeds.

"When Akhtar officiated the Leeds Test in 1998 he was representing the ICC and we can only hold an inquiry if we get the match referee's report from that particular Test," Saeed said

"There's nothing against Akhtar and since he is a Pakistani we have to clear the matter.” ITINERARY

MELBOURNE, July 6 (Reuters): Itinerary’ of West indies and Zimbabwe 2000/01 cricket tour of Australia:

2000 Nov 7: Chairman's XI v West Indies. Lilac Hill

Nov 9-12: Western Australia v West Indies. Perth.

Nov 14: Northern Territory Cricket Association Invitational XI v

West Indies. Alice Springs.

Nov 17-20: Victoria v West Indies. Melbourne.

Nov 23-27: First Test, Australia v West Indies, Brisbane.

Dec 1-5: Second Test, Australia v West Indies, Perth.

Dec 7: Prime Minister's XI v West Indies, Canberra.

Dec 9-12: Australia A v We^t Indies, Hobart.

Dec 15-19: Third Test, Australia v West Indies. Adelaide.

Dec 26-30: Fourth Test, Australia v West Indies. Melbourne.

2001 Jan 2-6: Fifth Test, Australia v West Indies. Sydney.

Jan 9: Australia’A v West Indies fda\ night! Adelaide.

Jan 11: Australia v West Indies (D N). Melbourne.

Jan 12: Australia A v Zimbabwe (D/N). Brisbane.

Jan 13: West Indies v Zimbabwe (D/N). Brisbane.

Jan 14: Australia v West Indies (D/N). Brisbane.

Jan 17: Australia v West Indies (D/N). Sydney.

Jan 19: Australian Country XI v Zimbabwe. Bowral.

Jan 21: Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N). Melbourne.

Jan 23: West Indies v Zimbabwe (D/N). Sydney.

Jan 25: West Indies v Zimbabwe (D/N). Adelaide.

Jan 26: Australia v West Indies (D/N). Adelaide.

Jan 28: Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N). Sydney.

Jan 30: Australia v Zimbabwe. Hobart.

Feb 2: West Indies v Zimbabwe (D/N). Perth.

Feb 4: Australia v Zimbabwe. Perth.

Feb 7: Triangular tournament, first final (D/N). Sydney

Feb 9: Triangular tournament, second final (D/N), Melbourne.

Feb 11: Triangular tournament, third final (D/N). Melbourne (if required).