Keen on having a good build-up to their tour of Australia in early December, the Pakistan Cricket Board is making efforts to confirm an engagement for its players either in India or Sharjah.

"The idea is to either convince the BCCI to ensure Pakistan's participation in a one-day series in India or to ask the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series to organise a tournament," Islamabad daily The News said.

The CBFS last hosted a tournament in Sharjah in April 2003 when Pakistan won a quadrangular series also featuring Kenya, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

At present, Pakistan's confirmed assignments are the Asia Cup from July 15 followed by the three-nation tournament in Holland from August 15-27, with India and Australia, and the ICC Champions Trophy in England from September 8.

Pakistan will also play at home in October against Zimbabwe and probably another team in a Test and one-day series before they embark on the Australian tour in early December.

India is all set to host world champions Australia in September followed by South Africa in November but the schedule is yet to be confirmed.