No international cricket in Pak for time being: ICC

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dubai, Apr.21 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out the return of international cricket in Pakistan in the near future, saying it would have to continue playing its ‘home’ series at neutral venues for the time being.

The ICC taskforce, which was formed to look into the possibility of holding international matches in Pakistan, has submitted its report in this regard, The News reports.

The report, which was tabled during the recent ICC executive board meeting in Dubai, stated that Pakistan would have to continue playing its matches at neutral venues, as the situation in the country is not conducive to host international tournaments.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has already said that the apex cricket body is trying hard to ensure that Pakistan gets international exposure, especially after the refusal of foreign teams to tour the country due the precarious security conditions, but it will have to wait before situation normalises in the troubled country.

“ Pakistan should be patient in these testing times as there’s a lack of confidence in foreign teams. The ICC is very keen to ensure Pakistan play at neutral venues rather than not competing at the international level, which I think will be detrimental for Pakistan cricket,” Lorgat had said while unveiling the 2010 T20 World Cup trophy in Karachi last week. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ICC denies giving evidence to PCB regarding Pak players’ involvement in match-fixing

April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.16 (ANI): International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Haroon Lorgat has rubbished reports that the ICC had provided evidence regarding some Pakistani cricketer’s involvement in match-fixing to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Lorgat said no such report have been given to the PCB, as being claimed by two Pakistani Senators.

“ We have a very stringent and modernised procedure in place to tackle any corruption in cricket and we at the ICC don’t go by hearsay or unsubstantiated allegations against anyone,” The Daily Times quoted Lorgat, as saying.

Earlier, speaking during the ICC World T20 Championship trophy unveiling ceremony, Lorgat said the apex cricket body is trying hard to ensure that Pakistan gets international exposure especially after the refusal of foreign teams to tour the country due the precarious security conditions.

Lorgat, however, hinted that international cricket might not return to the troubled country in the near future.

“ Pakistan should be patient in these testing times as there’s a lack of confidence in foreign teams. The ICC is very keen to ensure Pakistan play at neutral venues rather than not competing at the international level, which I think will be detrimental for Pakistan cricket,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

International cricket unlikely to return to Pakistan in near future: ICC

April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.16 (ANI): Hinting that international cricket might not return to Pakistan any time soon, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to be patient while foreign teams gather confidence to visit the country once again.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the apex cricket body is trying hard to ensure that Pakistan gets international exposure especially after the refusal of foreign teams to tour the country due the precarious security conditions.

“ Pakistan should be patient in these testing times as there’s a lack of confidence in foreign teams. The ICC is very keen to ensure Pakistan play at neutral venues rather than not competing at the international level, which I think will be detrimental for Pakistan cricket,” Lorgat said while unveiling the 2010 T20 World Cup trophy here.

“ It is an unfortunate reflection of circumstances that’s been beyond the control of Pakistan cricket. We are trying our level best that they play,” he added.

Lorgat stressed that the PCB should focus on domestic cricket like his home country South Africa, which developed a strong domestic team during apartheid.

“ PCB has strategic plans to ensure that domestically the game thrives and it retains its place in the international cricket world by competing, and ensuring that they keep the national team as strong as they’ve ever been,” The Dawn quoted Lorgat, as saying.

When asked that which team he favours to win the upcoming T20 World Championship in West Indies, Lorgat said it was difficult to pin point a team as all have world class players, but said India, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa might make it to the semi-finals.

“ Those are my four teams and I guess any big performance beyond that which Shahid Afridi did in the semifinal and final last year can win the tournament,” Lorgat said.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, who was also present during the function along Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi, expressed the hope that Lorgat’s visit would help in reviving international cricket in Pakistan.

“ Haroon’s presence in Pakistan at a time when international cricket is not possible here is hugely reassuring and once again illustrates the commitment of the game’s global governing body to do whatever it can to help ensure cricket remains healthy in Pakistan,” Butt said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pak-New Zealand ODI series to be held in UAE

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB yet to decide venue for ‘home’ series against New Zealand

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep. 4 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still undecided regarding the venue of the ‘home’ one-day international series against New Zealand scheduled to be held in November.

While it was being speculated that the series would be held either in the UAE or Malaysia, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt said final decision in this regard would be taken after his meeting with the UAE authorities next week.

“I will meet a member of UAE team in Dubai on September 7 to take a decision on this matter,” The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

“I told them the rates for holding the ODI matches against Australia in Abu Dhabi in April this year were reasonable. Naturally, we don’t want to incur a loss and I informed him to give us rates like that of Abu Dhabi,” Butt added.

Speculations are that Pakistan might host New Zealand in the United States or Malaysia if the PCB fails to convince the UAE cricket authorities regarding hosting the matches in that country.

“These are available options for us although our first preference is to have the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai,” a PCB official said.

New Zealand was to tour Pakistan in October-November this year, but refused to visit the country citing deteriorating security conditions there.

Later, the New Zealand Cricket Board agreed to split the series into two parts.

It was decided that Pakistan would host the Kiwis in an ODI series at neutral venues in October-November and the Test series in New Zealand in November-December. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB still hopes to persuade ICC to allow Pakistan host 2011 World Cup matches

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, June 27 (ANI): While the International Cricket Council (ICC) has made it clear that it would not revoke its decision of hosting any 2011 World Cup matches in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still hoping that it would force the apex cricketing agency to change its verdict.

After the ICC’s confirmation of not hosting any of the 14 matches awarded to Pakistan earlier, the PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, said he was still hopeful that the council would allow Pakistan to host its share of matches at neutral venues.

“I still feel there is a scope for the PCB to work out a solution of these issues, which is acceptable to everyone. We will continue to explore various options,” The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt said had the other three host nations India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh supported the PCB during the ICC meeting, the PCB would have surely succeeded in its aims.

“I thought we had made significant progress till last week but no support from the Asian countries meant that Pakistan may not be able to physically host these games at venues of its choice. But all is not lost as we are still optimistic and will continue to pursue this matter in the interest of the PCB and Pakistan cricket,” he added.

Butt said that the option of neutral venues would be discussed again at a meeting of the ICC’s central organising committee (COC).

Earlier, the ICC had rejected the PCB’s proposal to stage its share of 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ICC said that the 14 matches, which were allotted to Pakistan earlier, would now be shared between the other three host nations. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ICC rejects PCB’s proposal of hosting 2011 World Cup matches on neutral venue

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, June 26 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to stage its share of 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ICC has decided that the 14 matches, which were allotted to Pakistan earlier, would now be shared between the other three host nations India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

he ICC president David Morgan said that the apex authority did consider the PCB’s proposal of hosting the matches in a ‘fifth country’, but decided against it.

“The (ICC) board has considered that but it has decided the 14 matches originally allocated to Pakistan should take place in the three other subcontinent countries of the full members, that is India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” The Dawn quoted Morgan, as saying.

Morgan said the final decision on number of matches re-located to the other three host nations would be taken later, as the matter has been referred to the tournament’s central organising committee for further action.

“We need a recommendation from those four host nations, including Pakistan. They will come forward with the location of those matches to the commercial board of the ICC,” Morgan added.

The ICC, which had stripped Pakistan of the mega event’s hosting rights following the brazen terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March, however, said that Pakistan would remain a co-host of the World Cup.

Morgan also announced that despite not hosting any World Cup matches, Pakistan would receive a hosting fee of 750,000 dollars per match amounting to a whopping 10.5 million dollars in total. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Host nations don’t want 2011 World Cup matches in Pak : SLCC

June 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Colombo, June 24 (ANI): While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is persuading the International Cricket Council (ICC) to overturn its decision of not allowing any World Cup matches in Pakistan, the Sri Lankan Cricket Committee (SLCC) has said that the other three host nations also want that Pakistan should not get any World Cup games.

The SLCC chairman, Somachandra de Silva said that the other three host nations, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh also agree with the ICC’s decision to not host any of the 2011 World Cup matches in Pakistan, as conditions there are not conducive for hosting international events.

De Silva said Pakistan’s proposal of hosting their share of matches at neutral venues is unacceptable.

“We also don’t agree to Pakistan’s proposal of them hosting their share of matches at neutral venues,” The Dawn quoted De Silva, as saying.

He asserted that the only host nations should have the right to decide the venues of the matches.

De Silva said Pakistan would be granted full hosting rights fees, despite them not hosting any game, and the other host countries would forego the hosting fees for Pakistan’s share of matches.

He also ruled out any possibility of shifting the World Cup from Asia to Australia and New Zealand as proposed by the PCB.

“The World Cup will not be shifted out of Asia at any cost,” De Silva said. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Younis pleads for return of international cricket to Pakistan following Twenty20 win

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, June 22 (ANI): After lifting this year’s Twenty20 World Cup at Lord’s, Pakistan’s triumphant captain Younis Khan made an emotional appeal to all teams to tour his turbulent nation in a bid to revive cricket in the sports mad country.

“I think it (the win) was a gift for all our nation. Everybody must come to Pakistan, we need a home test series. How can we attract the youngsters? Players must come to Pakistan,” Sky News quoted Khan, as saying.

On Sunday, an unbeaten 54 from all-rounder Shahid Afridi took Pakistan to an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka before thousands of exultant supporters in London.

Pakistan did not play a single test last year, and lost the games they were due to host at the 2011 50-over World Cup after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March.

Their international matches in the forseeable future will be staged either in the host countries or at neutral venues.

Pakistan was not the favourites at the beginning of Twenty20 World Cup, as the team lost all its warm-up matches.

Afridi, with his explosive batting and brisk leg-spin, was the crucial player in the semi-final win over South Africa and again on Sunday.

Younis’s batting throughout and the skills of pace bowler Umar Gul, who took a Twenty20 best five for six against New Zealand, were also critical to Pakistan’s ultimate success.

Their progress throughout the 16-day tournament mirrored that of the 1992 50-over World Cup winners. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB mull proposing neutral venues for its share of 2011 World Cup matches

May 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 23 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling to propose neutral venues for the 2011 World Cup matches that the International Cricket Council (ICC) denied hosting in Pakistan due to precarious security conditions.

The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said that the board is trying to hard to host the matches on Pakistan soil, but if it fails to do so it would want the matches to be held on neutral venues other than in any of the three host (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) countries.

“We will, as per the hosts’ agreement we have all signed, submit a satisfactory security plan to the ICC for games in Pakistan. Should that plan not be satisfactory then we will put forward a proposal for a neutral venue,” The News quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt said the PCB would like to host its share of matches in the Middle East or Kuala Lumpur.

“We have in our minds the options of the Middle East and Kuala Lumpur. That process and procedure is part of the hosting agreement that we all signed,” he added.

The ICC has convened meeting in Dubai on June 3 to discuss the issue.

“We decided some solution has to be worked out and we will have a discussion in Dubai on June 3 and all the officials will be there, so I hope a solution will be found,” Butt added. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB’s no vote helped ICC to move World Cup out of Pak

May 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Dubai, May 15 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to stay away from voting helped the International Cricket Council to move World Cup matches out of Pakistan.

According to the legal advice received by the ICC, when PCB chairman Ijaz Butt chose to stay away from the voting during the ICC board meeting that decided on the issue in Dubai on April 17, his vote was counted as an unanimous one.

“The final vote during that meeting has been recorded as having been a unanimous one,” ICC sources told Cricinfo.

Sources said the PCB decision to abstain from voting has left it on weak legal ground in the case

“This should work strongly in the ICC’s favour. If the PCB had any objection at that point of time, they should have voted against the move instead of abstaining. Legally, as it is, they have a weak case,” they said.

The PCB announced that it had issued a legal notice to the ICC on May 9, three weeks after the ICC arrived at its decision.

Terming the ICC decision as ‘discriminatory and legally flawed’, the PCB wrote to the world body asking for the case to be referred to the independent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Although the ICC has largely remained muted on the issue, its CEO vowed to deal with the situation.

“On the PCB issue, I believe it’s better for me to say less on it. It is the subject of a dispute and we’ll have to deal with it,” ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said.

The ICC official had also rejected PCB’s suggestions to hold the World Cup matches, originally scheduled in Pakistan, on neutral venues like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Broken leg chair” Pak must seek neutral venues if it wants to play international cricket: ICC

April 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.25 (ANI): Pakistan must admit that the leg of a chair is broken and unless it fixes it, it has to seek neutral venues if it wants to play international cricket.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked Pakistan to explore neutral venues for its home assignments as it is certain that no foreign team would visit the country in the prevailing security conditions.

“Pakistan must admit that the leg of a chair is broken.Then they would be able to fix it and find a place to be seated, otherwise, by crying or not admitting that the leg is broken wouldn’t help Pakistan to manage their cricket affairs,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

“If Pakistan manages to play at neutral venues like Dubai, Ireland, England or elsewhere it would be too good for all us,” Lorgat added.

Lorgat said that following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, no foreign team is keen to tour Pakistan, but the ICC is trying its best to keep Pakistan afloat in the international cricket arena.

“The problem is that nobody wants to come to Pakistan.We in the ICC are trying our best to keep Pakistan playing at neutral venues by telling the other nations to fulfill their commitments,” The Nation quoted Lorgat, as saying. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB to finalize neutral venues for future home series soon

April 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Malaysia, Ireland and Scotland could be PCB’s new ‘home bases’

April 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr. 10 (ANI): Malaysia, Ireland and Scotland may emerge as host venues to hold Pakistan’s future ‘home’ series.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt has confirmed that those nations, apart from England and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), can become Pakistan’s foreign bases as long as domestic security risk remains high.

Butt said PCB would announce the names of neutral venues for impending international series during the next month.

“There are other alternatives too. Kuala Lumpur, Ireland and Glasgow are among those. Nothing has been finalized at this stage but we will hope to make a decision in the next month,” the Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying

There is a strong possibility of England hosting next year’s Test series between Pakistan and Australia.

“We have spoken with the ECB, and we will speak again with Clarke (ECB chief) when we all get together for the next ICC meeting in Dubai. We have a number of alternatives before us, and we are investigating their suitability as host venues,” Butt said.

Pakistan is hoping to return to the competitive cricket with this month’s five-match one-day series and a one-off Twenty20 match against Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Pakistani team has not played any international match since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore on March 3.

Cricket in Pakistan now faces an uncertain future with teams unwilling to tour the nation due to security reasons. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB set to earn whopping four million dollars from UAE series

April 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.10 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expecting to earn a massive four million dollars from the UAE one day international series against Australia.

The board, which is facing a grim financial situation due to a series of tour cancellations, is expecting the forthcoming series to improve its bank account figures, as it has sold the title sponsorship rights to a Dubai builder for 440,000 dollars while co-sponsorship rights have been sold 225,000 dollars to a bank and 160,000 dollars to a cellular company.

“The board should earn 5 million dollars from the television and sponsorship rights of the series out of which 1 million dollars would be spent on all expenses incurred on hosting the series at these neutral venues,” The Daily Times quoted a PCB official, as saying.

He informed that the PCB is also spending a huge sum on the security arrangements for the series which will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The board has also arranged private security guards for the April 22-May 7 series. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PCB fears sponsors deserting it in wake of Lahore terror attack

March 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar.10 (ANI): Cricket starved Pakistan is also likely to be snubbed by the sponsors after last week’s terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed fears that major sponsors might backtrack from their deals with the board in the wake of the Lahore terror attack.

“Our major sponsors in Pakistan, who support cricket, are bound to rethink their sponsorship deals if we can’t have international cricket in the country,” The News quoted PCB’s chief operating officer Saleem Altaf, as saying.

It is unlikely that Pakistan will host any international cricketing event in the near future, and the sponsors who were already perturbed by a series of tour cancellations may ultimately bid a final good-bye to the game, as for them it is not financially feasible to put money into the game in these difficult circumstances.

Foreign teams have refused to visit Pakistan due to security concerns in recent times. First, it was Australia who called off a Test tour last April. Then the Champions Trophy was shifted. Finally, India also cancelled its tour to Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Altaf said that Pakistan lost 20 million dollars in estimated revenues when India cancelled its tour.

“The PCB is now likely to incur increased costs for staging home series at neutral venues and finding suitable sponsors,” he said.

To stir-up interest of people and attract sponsors, the board has made participation of star national players in domestic events mandatory, but until international cricket returns to Pakistan, the PCB can not hope to revive its sagging accounts. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

World Cup 2011 will go ahead even if all matches are held in India: Bindra

March 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Mar 9 (ANI): ICC’s Principal Adviser and one of cricket’s most influential administrator, Inderjit Singh Bindra, is convinced the World Cup in 2011 will go ahead in the sub continent, even if all of the matches are played in India.

“We won’t jump to that conclusion, but if the situation is bad, India is big enough to stage the competition,” he said.

“The IPL has 59 matches spread over eight franchises. The next World Cup has 49 matches,” The Telegraph quoted Bindra, as saying.

Bindra also said he was 100 per cent certain that the IPL would go ahead as planned, despite the reservations of some players.

“I was reading on the internet about the Taliban’s attitude to cricket. They say Muslims should use swords not bats.

They say cricket in Asia is like opium in 19th century China – a tool of imperial powers. It is a very pernicious philosophy,” Bindra said.

Bindra believes Pakistan should not start playing at neutral venues.

“That is a booby-trap and they will cease to be a Test-playing country. How do youngsters watch and learn the game if Pakistan do not play at home?” he said.

“Give Pakistan a chance to get their act together – and they must ensure presidential-style security. But, ultimately, this is something that cannot be tackled by cricket administrators but by global powers,” Bindra added.

To make matters worse, Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh was postponed last week, after the ICC realised the security plan featured the Bangladesh Rifles, who have just mutinied. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pak to ‘host’ Australia in a Test series in England

March 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar.5 (ANI): Pakistan and Australia will face each other in three Tests in England.

The proposed series will be played from the second week of August to the first week of September in 2010.

“Pakistan has started the discussion about playing three Test matches at neutral venues in England in 2010. It’s a work in progress, the PCB is responsible for coming up with the arrangements, but in principle we’ve been comfortable and (we’re) talking with them,” The News quoted Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman Peter Young, as saying.

After Australia refused to visit Pakistan, last year, citing security reasons, the Kangaroos had promised to compensate by touring Pakistan in 2009 for a one-day series and then in 2010 for the Tests. But the one-day series was later shifted to Abu Dhabi and Dubai after CA expressed apprehensions about sending the team to Pakistan.

Though an official announcement about the Test series is yet to made, it is almost certain that after the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Australia will not visit Pakistan.

Referring to a discussion between Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt and his England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) counterpart Giles Clarke, PCB chief operating officer, Saleem Altaf said both cricket boards’ had discussed the possibility of hosting Australia in England last year itself. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts