Pakistan sound out SL over playing at home

[shaheer]

The PCB has asked Sri Lanka Cricket "for their views" on the prospect of playing their series later this year in Pakistan instead of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka were the last team to play international cricket in Pakistan - their tour in March 2009 was cut short after terrorists attacked their team bus as it was on the way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the second Test.

That attack, on the back of growing security concerns over the previous two years, brought to an end international cricket in the country, taking away the 2011 World Cup in the process.

The two sides are due to play a full Test and limited-overs series in October, scheduled in the FTP officially as a 'home' series for Pakistan. Until now the series was due to take place in Sri Lanka, but after a meeting between PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik on Thursday, the government is keen on bringing international cricket back to the country.
Source Cricinfo.
"The government wants this [series to be held in Pakistan]," a senior PCB official told ESPNcricinfo. "We have asked SLC again to let us have their views on the issue."

The prospect of the series actually taking place in Pakistan remains a distant one. So far the government has only passed on verbal instructions to the PCB, who in turn have written to SLC. As of Saturday, when a SLC official was asked about the development or whether the board had been approached, he told ESPNcricinfo: "Not to my knowledge."

Most of Pakistan's major cities - where such a series is likely to be played - have been targeted fairly recently by terrorist attacks, within the last year in the cases of Lahore and Karachi. At the beginning of this month Osama bin Laden was killed in an operation by US forces in Abbottabad, a town not far from the country's capital Islamabad.

Pakistan have played their 'home' series since the Lahore attacks at a number of venues; a series against South Africa was arranged in the UAE. In 2009-10, they broke up a full tour of New Zealand by playing the ODIs in Abu Dhabi and the Tests in New Zealand itself. They used England as a venue for two 'home' Tests against Australia last summer. Pakistan is also, incidentally, in talks with SLC over staging their series with England over the turn of the year in Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan will actually become the first international team to play in Pakistan next week when they take on Pakistan 'A' in three 50-over games. Interestingly enough, one of the games was arranged for Abbottabad, but after the meeting between Butt and Malik the venue was switched to Islamabad.

[Poison]

Please no lol.

[violet_may]

Originally Posted by shaheer Most of Pakistan's major cities - where such a series is likely to be played - have been targeted fairly recently by terrorist attacks, within the last year in the cases of Lahore and Karachi. At the beginning of this month Osama bin Laden was killed in an operation by US forces in Abbottabad, a town not far from the country's capital Islamabad.

Considering recent situation in Pak, can't blame them for being cautious. It will be a process but at least things are moving along a bit...even if it is just a verbal request by PCB likely to be turned down. I wouldn't want another attack on the team players and the current situation is not an optimistic one.

[Fireworks11]

SL are the only top nation that'll even consider touring.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

No they shoundt in all honesty in don't see any teams coming till after a NATO withdrawl from afganistan. I also feel un easy about the saftey of the afghan team, hope pcb don't
get relaxed like they did with the Sri lankans. ( they had
much more security in Karachi but not in lahore)

[JibranAnsari]

please do not tour , this moron (rehman malik) doesn't care who lives and who dies.

[shaheer]

I want them to only tour if they are provided with the type of security zaradari gets as if they comein it will be a huge step forward forour country and pakistan cricket inshallah

[kingusama92]

With the current lot of people administrating Pakistan cricket, this should not be happening.

Last thing we need is another problem and we're done for a REALLY long time.

[Fireworks11]

Let's see how the Afghanistan tour goes first before moving further.

[MMHS]

Wrong choice as usual by the Government & the board. 3 Test, 5 ODI & 1/2 T20 is a 5/6 weeks tour & it's too long for a indecent free Pakistan. Anything blows any where, Lankan's rightly 'll cancel the tour immediately & it 'll be an even bigger set back.

Why don't you set up with BCB for us to host the series? I am sure that the gate money & airtime revenue 'll be much higher here. Also, I can confirm that the 3 Test wickets 'll not offer the FAST & BOUNCY experiences we got last time these 2 sides played in Pakistan