Rameez Raja believes the upcoming Indo-Pak series should be played in India and not a neutral venue if India refuse to tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is doing all it can to ensure India travel to Pakistan in January next year to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a twenty20 international.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said it would send a team to Pakistan only if it receives clearance from the Indian government to travel.

The Ministry of External Affairs, however, is reluctant to grant permission due to security concerns in the neighbouring country.

"If security concerns are paramount then India should host the series," Raja told the Times of India.

"I don't see any reason why the series can't be swapped because venues in India are ready."

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt is hoping to convince India to tour as scheduled when he meets with BCCI officials and government officials in India later this week.

Abu Dhabi, which recently hosted a three-match one-day series between Pakistan and the West Indies, has already offered to host the Pakistan-India series.

But Raja believed shifting the series to a neutral venue would be detrimental to Test cricket.

"It will set an unhealthy, short-sighted precedent," he said.

"The game already has only a few teams which are eligible to carry themselves through five days of cricket with poise and dignity.

"It's imperative Tests are held where there are at least a few die-hard fans of the longer format, because viewership is dwindling in traditionally strong centres as well.

"There is little cricket culture at neutral venues, so I don't know if Tests there are a good idea.

"The West Indies-Pakistan ODI series in Abu Dhabi attracted crowds only on Fridays.

"It will be a waste if no one turns up to watch a marquee Test series.

"Besides, no one will be touring Pakistan in the near future if India doesn't."