Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf said he is in talks with
a couple of other countries if Bangladesh's national team fails to
receive government clearance to tour next month because of security
concerns.
"I don't want to disclose the names of the countries, but we are in touch with at least two (cricket) boards," Ashraf said.
"If Bangladesh says no, we have a couple of other options too."
Advertisement: Story continues below
Bangladesh's cricket board has submitted a security
report on Pakistan to its government after president Mustafa Kamal led a
nine-member delegation to the country earlier this month.
Kamal had said before leaving Pakistan he was satisfied
with the security arrangements, but the board is still waiting for
clearance from the government.
"I talked to him (Mustafa Kamal) in Bangladesh during the
Asia Cup and he told me he was committed, but I will make a formal
announcement after the security report is cleared by his government,"
Ashraf said.
Foreign teams have not toured Pakistan since gunmen
attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing six
police officers and a van driver.
The PCB wants to bring international cricket back to
Pakistan by hosting Bangladesh for either three one-day internationals
or two ODIs plus a Twenty20 match. The host cities remain negotiable,
but it is likely Lahore will be one if Bangladesh agrees to tour.
The International Cricket Council has also said that if
it was not satisfied with the security in Pakistan then non-neutral
umpires could be used for the series, meaning Pakistani officials on the
ICC's panel of umpires might be called upon.
"The ICC has cooperated with us a lot," Ashraf said. "It
is willing to consider Pakistan's home umpires ... which is a positive
sign."
Ashraf said the PCB is also considering the option of inviting a World XI if the Bangladesh tour falls through.
"Our aim is to revive international cricket in Pakistan and for this we are making all these efforts," he said.
Pakistan's next international away assignment is a Test series against Sri Lanka in July.
The PCB then plans to "host" Australia in Sri Lanka, playing five ODIs and three Twenty20 matches in August.
The United Arab Emirates has been Pakistan's main "host"
in the past three years, but Ashraf said Sri Lanka is the likely venue
so Pakistan's players can acclimatise in the country before it hosts the
Twenty20 World Cup in September and October
"The other reason is Sri Lanka is very much cost-effective for us," Ashraf said.
"We have to spend nearly 50 per cent less if we organise the series in Sri Lanka rather than UAE."
No comments:
Post a Comment