Pak-New Zealand ODI series to be held in UAE

Lahore, Sep 14 (ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt has said that he has had constructive talks with Emirates Cricket Board officials about holding a proposed ODI series against New Zealand there later this year.

Butt, who is in London, said that he would officially announce the venues for the four One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches on Monday after returning home.

“The venues, 90 per cent, would be Abu Dhabi and Dubai once again,” The News quoted Butt, as saying.

New Zealand has refused to tour Pakistan for the scheduled series in October this year because of the volatile security situation in the country.

However, it has agreed to play the matches at neutral venues and host the three Tests in New Zealand in November-December.

Pakistan has already played a one-day series with Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in April-May this year.

Butt visit to the Emirates came after differences erupted over the hosting fees being demanded by the Abu Dhabi and Dubai cricket bodies.

After meeting with the Emirates board officials, Butt travelled to London where he held two rounds of talks with Giles Clarke who heads the Wales and English cricket Board and also leads the special task force of the International Cricket Council formed to explore possibilities for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. (ANI)

PCB to finalize neutral venues for future home series soon

Lahore, Apr.14 (ANI): Realizing that it is difficult to host international matches in Pakistan because of security concerns, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will soon finalize neutral venues for Test and one-day international series scheduled to be played over the next year.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt and Chief Operating Officer Saleem Altaf would meet the New Zealand, Australian and English cricket board officials during the upcoming ICC Executive Board meeting in Dubai to finalize these venues.

“It is more or less obvious that for next one year we would not be able to host teams at home. So, we have decided to select the best options as neutral venues,” The Nation quoted a PCB official, as saying.

“It is more or less decided we will play New Zealand in a one-day series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai after the Champions Trophy this year and host them for Tests in Ireland and Scotland,” he added.e informed that Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ireland, Scotland, England and Malaysia are also being considered as probable neutral venues by the PCB.

Sources added that Ireland and Scotland were very keen to host Tests matches to push their claim for Test status before the ICC.

Pakistan was scheduled to host New Zealand in October-November this year, but the Kiwis have already expressed their reluctance to visit the country. (ANI)