LONDON: England will host two Test matches and two T20 internationals between Pakistan and Australia in 2010, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced yesterday.
Pakistan is currently unable to host international cricket because of security concerns, which were heightened following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March in Lahore.
The matches will take place in July 2010.
The ECB also announced that England will take on Pakistan in four Tests, five one-day internationals and two T20 Internationals in England in August and September of next year.
ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: “The Pakistan team performed outstandingly well in the World T20 tournament in England and were worthy world champions. The passion of the support for their team in England demonstrated why this country is an ideal venue for these matches against Australia .
Clarke has agreed to serve as chairman of a task force set up by the International Cricket Council to devise ways of helping the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to maintain its international fixture schedule.
Clarke said: “The Pakistan Cricket Board is faced with a very challenging situation at present and ECB in its role as a member of the global cricket community is keen to offer PCB all possible assistance at such a difficult time. I am delighted to take on this role and will be liaising closely with my colleagues at PCB in the coming weeks and months.” He added: “The warm relations between our two Boards has developed further under the leadership of the current PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, with whom I enjoy an excellent working relationship, and ECB is delighted to support Pakistan in staging these matches.”
Blame game
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board blames the other three World Cup co-hosts for losing its 14 matches at the 2011 tournament. The International Cricket Council ruled Thursday that India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will share Pakistan’s matches, denying the wishes of the PCB to move them to a neutral location such as the United Arab Emirates.
“No support from the Asian countries meant that Pakistan may not be able to physically host these games at venues of its choice,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said yesterday in a statement. “It is obviously disappointing.
“But all is not lost. We are still optimistic and will continue to pursue this matter in the interest of the PCB and Pakistan cricket.” Pakistan’s hopes of hosting World Cup matches effectively ended when gunmen attacked Sri Lanka’s team bus at Lahore on March 3, killing six policemen and a van driver.
Pakistan was stripped as a co-host at an ICC board meeting in April, but that decision was reversed after the PCB sent a legal notice to the governing body.
The ICC will give the PCB its hosting fee of $10.5 million and Pakistan will also remain a member of the Central Organizing Committee of the World Cup. However, Butt is still unhappy the tournament headquarters were moved from Lahore to Mumbai.
“There are two outstanding issues — venues of 14 matches and the location of World Cup Secretariat,” Butt said. “I still feel there is scope for PCB to work out a solution of these issues which is acceptable to everyone. We will continue to explore various options.” Pakistan will play two tests and two Twenty20 internationals against Australia in England next July because of security concerns.
