Pakistan played their last full series in the UAE against South Africa losing the one-off Twenty20, the ODI series 3-2 while drafting the Test series. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan will run their home series against Sri Lanka and England in the UAE as security concerns continue to drive away touring sides from the country.
The announcement comes after Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka were being pondered over as possible venues for the series.
Pakistan last hosted an international series against Sri Lanka in March 2009 that was cut short due to a gun fire on the tourists and have been constrained to meet their home series on neutral venues.
With international teams refusing to turn the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now once again opted for UAE to act as the hosts for their upcoming series. And spell the final tour itinerary for the series against Englandlikely to be in January next yearis yet to be announced, matches against Sri Lanka are scheduled for October this year.
Its a safe choice
The PCB has made a beneficial decision, Emirates Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer Dilawar Mani told The Express Tribune. I wish Pakistan could bring the serial in their own land and at the moment, its unfortunate that they cant do so.
But we receive the PCBs decision. We take the best facilities to host Pakistan.
Mani said that there was criticism that the pitches in UAE were unsupportive to bowlers and were a heaven for batsmen but added that this would not be the event now.
The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have hosted ample international cricket and are now mature enough, said Mani.
As far as One-Day Internationals (ODI) are concerned, I think pitches have played fairly well so far while in the Test series between Pakistan and South Africa they were a bit over prepared.
But things are getting better now and with more and more cricket being played in the country, there will be fewer complaints. But we will involve the PCB on board before preparing the pitches.
The UAE have hosted a sequence of Pakistans series over the preceding 3 days with the latest in October last yeara series comprising one Twenty20, three Tests and five ODIs.
Mani said that Pakistan will look at place in the UAE since the weather were near to what they have. He said that fans were passionate about cricket and would fully support Pakistan.
Cricket following here is adequate to attract people to the stadiums and that will produce the series successful. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are high-quality sides and this is an added bonus for the fans.
Afghanistan, who played against Pakistan A in May, were the 1st international team to see the area since March 2009. But an international series still awaits Pakistan, who were also stripped of their decent to co-host the World Cup this year.
Governing board meeting today
The PCB Governing Board meeting will be held today, with the blessing of the boards annual budget, Shahid Afridis spat and international cricket to be the key issues being raised, at the National Cricket Academy. The meeting, to be presided over by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, will be really crucial in sight of the present site of Pakistan cricket ahead of the upcoming International Cricket Council board meeting in Hong Kong.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment