LANCASHIRE are bidding to stage a repeat of last year's India-Pakistan World Cup clash at Old Trafford this summer.

The English Cricket Board has invited the game's biggest international rivals to play a one day series in England at the end of this season to build on the interest generated by the World Cup.

And Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes confirmed that Old Trafford is in the running to host one of the matches. "The board have asked us if we would like to stage one, and we are very keen," he said.

"I think they will play one game in the south, one in the midlands and one in the north, so it's probably between us and Headingley. Because of the success we had last year, and the fact that both countries seemed to enjoy playing here, there is every chance we might get one."

That could mean a head to head battle between Lancashire's new overseas player, Sourav Ganguly, and old favourite Wasim Akram.

The India-Pakistan game was one of three World Cup matches which brought receipts of more than £2 million and helped Lancashire to post a £248,568 post tax profit in the last financial year, in the annual report which was published today.

Floodlit cricket was also a big financial success, with the four day-night National League matches attracting an average crowd of almost 10,000 - compared to a total paid attendance in nine championship matches of 7,753.

The Old Trafford Lodge brought in an operating profit of £150,000 in its first five months of operations, although the cost of building the new hotel and media centre has increased the club's overdraft facility to £5 million. Lancashire's total income was £7.5 million, easily the highest of any first class county.

But Cumbes stressed: "The message we keep trying to get across to our members is the increasing cost of running a cricket club and a Test Match ground. Whereas in the past members' subscriptions would cover the costs, now they would only represent less than 10 per cent of our income, so we always have to be looking for other ways to raise money."

Lancashire are already considering introducing a new one day membership scheme, including floodlit matches and maybe even internationals, for the 2001 season. The report will be discussed at the annual general meeting two weeks today.

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