FAISALABAD, 26 October 2003 — Pakistan hope to revive Karachi and Peshawar as international venues when India make their scheduled tour early next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday.
South Africa and New Zealand have both shied away from playing matches this year in Karachi and Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, citing safety and security concerns.
Although venues have not yet been confirmed for India’s proposed tour, PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan said his board was determined to stage games in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. “The international Bugti Stadium in Quetta is expected to be completed this winter with floodlights and we would want India to play there next year,” Hasan told reporters.
The Indian government announced on Wednesday the resumption of bilateral cricket ties between the two hostile neighbors, and the PCB has sent a draft itinerary to its Indian counterpart including seven One-day Internationals and three Tests.
Hasan added that the proposed tour would take place between Feb. 19 and April 8.
PCB Chairman Tauqir Zia is expected to discuss the itinerary with Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya during the International Cricket Council (ICC) executive board meeting in Barbados later this month.
The Pakistan board hopes India’s visit will help to recoup some of the financial losses suffered because of canceled and relocated tours following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
In May 2002, a suicide bomb outside a Karachi hotel where the New Zealand team was staying prompted a cancellation of the tour and India called off a tour in April this year. New Zealand are due to tour Pakistan next month for five One-Day Internationals, but will not play in either Karachi or Peshawar.
India last visited Pakistan for a full Test series in 1989-90 and Pakistan’s last tour of India was in 1999.
