PCB in Talks With New Zealand and Australia for Pakistan Tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently undergoing a serious discussion with Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) for a possible tour to Pakistan, later in the year.

So much so, not a single Test match has been played in Pakistan since 2009. The gruesome attack on Sri Lankan team bus way back in 2009 at Liberty Chowk in Lahore, has kept teams at the bay.

However, it will be tough to convince Australia or New Zealand to visit Pakistan. But, PCB will leave no stones unturned in making the possibility a reality.

PCB’s Chairman Najam Sethi is currently in talks with both Australia and New Zealand for a possible tour. Pakistan is slated to play a series against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Malaysia in October-December, this year.

“New Zealand has said that they will consider our request. But only if they think the security is ok. If that is the case, they may play one or two games in Pakistan,” Sethi told PakPassion.Net.

“If we can get New Zealand to come and play, then I believe we have a good case to make with Australia who could follow on the heels of their neighbours,” Sethi asserted.

Sethi reiterated if Australia or New Zealand play at least one or two matches in Pakistan, they might ask England to play the whole series in Pakistan.

“If both Australia and New Zealand come to play even one or two games in Pakistan, then by the time for our home series with England, we could persuade them to play in Pakistan too,” Sethi maintained.

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Sethi further stated Pakistan has to make everyone realize certain things and make the touring teams feel at ease.

“The security company nominated by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Eastern Star International, will come to Pakistan to have another look which is they do every time an international team wishes to come to Pakistan,” he said.

Sethi added the ICC security company will come to Pakistan. They body will check whether all the facilities are up to standard to hold international matches in Pakistan.

“If they are happy, then they send a positive report which creates the necessary conditions for a serious consideration for our request,” he further said.

Sethi has set a five-year timeline:

Sethi has set a five-year timeline to make international teams come to Pakistan. So much so, PCB as a body has put all the efforts to revive the international cricket at home.

“We are now one and half years down that road. In this time, we have had Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, the World XI and West Indies visit us in Pakistan. We have also had Pakistan Super League (PSL) players coming to our country,” he concluded.

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