 The Pakistan Cricket Board has said that they are looking at options to
play a home series against India at another venue. The security concerns in the
country have ensured that none of the countries will be touring Pakistan, and
with the relations between India and Pakistan having cooled off considerably,
there have been no bilateral series taken place since the time of 2007.
Currently, Pakistan are hosting their home series against New Zealand, but
the same is being played in New Zealand itself. This was agreed upon by both
the countries and will help the cash-strapped Pakistan board to garner some
revenues. Pakistan has already lost out on the hosting rights of the 2011 edition
of the World Cup. The Pakistani players were also not allowed to play in the
2009 edition of the Indian Premier League, and now may not end up playing
the next season either.
However, for that to happen, Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman has said that
the Indian cricket board need to show some interest. He said, "We are playing
our 'home' Test series in New Zealand right now, we can plan a 'home' Test series
in India as well, provided the Indians show interest."
The Indians were supposed to tour Pakistan in the early months of 2009 but
with the 26/11 attacks taking place, the tour was cancelled. The chairman Butt
said that if India agreed to schedule a part of that particular series - if
not the entire one - then, the Pakistani side will be more than happy to tour
India. However, there needs to be a window in which the Pakistanis can be accommodated
as the Indians have a hectic and a very jam-packed schedule in the year 2010
- what with the likes of the IPL, Champions League T20 and the ICC World
T20 already scheduled apart from the other international engagements for the
team.
Not only that, but for a bilateral series to take place between the two countries,
the government of India has to give a go-ahead. Without this permission, the
Indians will not be able to play in the series against Pakistan.
The PCB is showing losses of $47 million and will be looking at every plausible
opportunity to cover up for the losses. Butt said, "It (the bilateral series)
is something we have been discussing at all levels with our government, with
their board officials and with the ICC"
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