Florida can be the next home of Pakistan Cricket Team

[aneeq7]

The United States of America Cricket Association has extended its support to the Pakistan Cricket Board by offering them the option to host international series in Florida. “USCA is capable of hosting Pakistan in USA and we can explore avenues in staging Pakistan home series one-day or T20 matches in USA as international cricket is at a deadlock at the moment in Pakistan,” said Nabeel Ahmed, the board’s newly-elected Chief Executive Officer. “USCA is expecting same cooperation from the PCB to consider play in Florida. We would love to see a triangular series between India, Pakistan and West Indies.”

“We have an ICC certified stadium in Florida which can host day and night matches,” he said, adding that New Zealand and the West Indies were due to play a 2-match T20 series at the venue later this year in June.

The PCB has been forced to host home series in neutral venues such as the UAE after a terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009 (which left a number of players injured and several civilians dead) raised security concerns about the country, with foreign teams deeming it too unsafe to tour.

Since then, the country has been undergoing a drought of international cricket, and the PCB has been occupied with efforts to invite foreign teams to tour Pakistan.

The board managed to convince a British Universities team to tour the country earlier this year, but their efforts to engage Bangladesh for a series this month did not produce any results. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s hesitation caused the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) to speak out against the event, leading the Dhaka High Court to issue a suspension of the tour, which was eventually cancelled.

However, while things continue to look unpromising on the home front, the PCB has been involved in arranging series in neutral venues. The Men In Green recently played against England in the UAE earlier this year, and another upcoming series against Australia is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka. Hosting a series in the United States could be a viable option not only for Pakistan, but could also aid in the development of cricket in the US.

[omairsiddiqui]

That's as far from home as it could possibly get for Pakistan.

[anakwalajinn]

Salaam.

Florida is an awesome place!
Would love some cricket there in December/January

[Dolphins]

Sad to see that the Pakistani Cricket Team is stateless and changing homes like gypsies.

[LegCutter]

From UAE to Sri Lanka to.....Florida. Wow Pakistan sure has a lot of homes!

[Looney]

Playing Dubai or Sri Lanka is the best option as they are closer . Remember the team already thinks they have to travel way more than other teams and it takes a bit of a toll on them .

[Canistani Hero]

Too far.

[dhump]

Pakistan team ka nam badal kar Khana Badosho ka Kafla na rakh dain.

[Looney]

Originally Posted by dhump Pakistan team ka nam badal kar Khana Badosho ka Kafla na rakh dain.

[Dr Khan]

any source?

[guldozer]

Didn't new zealand and Sri Lanka play there previously?

[Lachrymose]

Wow, I can actaully go watch some of the matches then

[Strike!]

Hell no. A worse option than Nepal.

[speed]

some joke

[adilmomin]

Only about 4 of the Pakistani cricketers would be appointed visa for US.

[Ahson Afzal]

Originally Posted by aneeq7 The United States of America Cricket Association has extended its support to the Pakistan Cricket Board by offering them the option to host international series in Florida. “USCA is capable of hosting Pakistan in USA and we can explore avenues in staging Pakistan home series one-day or T20 matches in USA as international cricket is at a deadlock at the moment in Pakistan,” said Nabeel Ahmed, the board’s newly-elected Chief Executive Officer. “USCA is expecting same cooperation from the PCB to consider play in Florida. We would love to see a triangular series between India, Pakistan and West Indies.” “We have an ICC certified stadium in Florida which can host day and night matches,” he said, adding that New Zealand and the West Indies were due to play a 2-match T20 series at the venue later this year in June. The PCB has been forced to host home series in neutral venues such as the UAE after a terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009 (which left a number of players injured and several civilians dead) raised security concerns about the country, with foreign teams deeming it too unsafe to tour. Since then, the country has been undergoing a drought of international cricket, and the PCB has been occupied with efforts to invite foreign teams to tour Pakistan. The board managed to convince a British Universities team to tour the country earlier this year, but their efforts to engage Bangladesh for a series this month did not produce any results. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s hesitation caused the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) to speak out against the event, leading the Dhaka High Court to issue a suspension of the tour, which was eventually cancelled. However, while things continue to look unpromising on the home front, the PCB has been involved in arranging series in neutral venues. The Men In Green recently played against England in the UAE earlier this year, and another upcoming series against Australia is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka. Hosting a series in the United States could be a viable option not only for Pakistan, but could also aid in the development of cricket in the US.

Don't think we need Florida as a home as we're doing fine in the UAE but if this tri-series could be staged it would be absolutely awesome

[Down2Earth]

american soil is not home for pakistan

[cricpak]

The COSTS is the main factor !!!
The AUDIENCE is another factor !!

and will other teams visit there to play their matches bearing the costs and profits they make out of the series ??

Pakistan could play AFGHANISTAN, ZIMBABWE, WEST INDIES THERE WITH LIMITED OVER GAMES, BUT
WOULD THEY RATHER PLAY IN THEIR OWN YARD AGAINST TEAMS LIKE THAT

[wrongun]

Maybe they are hoping the millions of Indians in USA will turn up to cheer for the other teams ?

[siccric]

Please no. Their stadiums are probably worse than those in Canada.

If they are not approved for test matches, we should not play ODIs on them either. Plus, the time difference will frustrate people in Pakistan.

What's wrong with the UAE? The pitches give us a considerable advantage, the time difference isn't that bad. I guess the only problem is that we can't play there in the summer, but that's fine I think.

[PlanetPakistan]

Matches in FL will be great!

[LethalSami]

what FL city is the ground in??????//

i live 40 miles from FL border line

edit: its in Lauderhill, FL





4-5 hours drive from here

[Asif321]

no thx... dubai is better

[khanz141]

They can't host themselves, but yeah they will host Pakistan very good. USA cricket is all talk and no action. I think their board is even worse than PCB lol

[PakPrince]

lol nobody will show up

most Pakistani Americans dont have enough interest in the game to actually spend a whole day watching it live

[Canistani Hero]

Originally Posted by PakPrince lol nobody will show up most Pakistani Americans dont have enough interest in the game to actually spend a whole day watching it live

Can't agree with that buddy. Ex-Pat Pakistani's are still very passionate about Pakistan, especially cricket. The US holds a major Pakistani setup in cities like Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Georgia, New Jersey. If people come to know about Pakistan playing there, depending on the opponent, I'm very sure people will fly in from even as far as Canada. I'd bet my life on sold out T20 games atleast, not so much for the tests though, i agree

[LethalSami]

^^u sure Pakistanis will leave their taxis, gas-stations and other businesses for a T20??

[PakPrince]

Originally Posted by LethalSami ^^u sure Pakistanis will leave their taxis, gas-stations and other businesses for a T20??

in USA Pakistanis usually work in are largely educated. so they dont do these jobs

those jobs are mostly for the British Pakistanis.. not that theres anything wrong with that. its an honest living. much better thn the drug culture and benefits

[LethalSami]

i live here..........i know what majority do

nothing wrong with owning gas-stations or other businesses..

most of those in 40's came here from Pak to work...

now the younger generations are educating themselves and we're seeing the fruits of that with with some youngsta beauties in other fields

[bluffmasterv2]

Originally Posted by LethalSami ^^u sure Pakistanis will leave their taxis, gas-stations and other businesses for a T20??

What kind of stupid generalization is that?

[LegCutter]

Originally Posted by bluffmasterv2 What kind of stupid generalization is that?

He's kinda right, a lot of Pakistanis do low-end jobs over there. Sure there are a lot of Pakistani doctors and higher-ups as well, but no harm in admitting the New York taxi driver job has more Pakistanis than any other job.

[Green Leopard]

This is turning into a joke.

Just stick to UAE. It's worked well. Especially in terms of support and TV viewing times for both in Pakistan and UK.

[munna_]

home in total alien conditions? what sorcery is this?

At least UAE and Sri Lanka have pitches which are somewhat similar to those in Pak and also the weather conditions!!

[junoonis]

This stadium is 10 mins from my home and I played the ground next to it many times. The main stadium pitch is very slow and low bounce. I went there for Sri lanka vs New Zeland game. It's a beautiful facility, not that big for enough for Florida crowd. I won't mind Pakistan playing here.

[wrongun]

What on earth are the USA pitches/conditions like ?

Florida is humid with beaches & swamps right ? So swinging & seaming ? Bounce ?

[DRS]

Originally Posted by munna_ home in total alien conditions? what sorcery is this? At least UAE and Sri Lanka have pitches which are somewhat similar to those in Pak and also the weather conditions!!

haha ; Your alien conditions pointtt left me in stitches.

America is not a safe place to play as every now and then you see UFO's sighting over there

I prefer UAE is much better choice and price as not many Pakistanis over there would show up, talking about America.

and Yeah it's way too far. though some of our players won't mind playing over there

[classic]

Can you imagine the grief Pakistanis would get at Imigration . NO THANKS !!

[Badsha]

What a joke. Please no...

[Badsha]

Originally Posted by PakPrince in USA Pakistanis usually work in are largely educated. so they dont do these jobs those jobs are mostly for the British Pakistanis.. not that theres anything wrong with that. its an honest living. much better thn the drug culture and benefits

Yeah. I agree with this.

[Markhor]

Next time on 'A Pakistani Place in the Sun', the PCB consider Ghana, Sierra Leone and Peru as possible 'home' venues.

Seriously, the UAE and Sri Lanka are the best options right now. Less travel time and familiar conditions.