'International cricket matches likely to resume by April'

PCB in contact with interior ministry, Bangladesh Cricket Board for hosting series in April or May this year. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani Friday said that the international cricket matches are likely to resume in the country by April.

Answering a question asked by MNA Shireen Arshad Khan, he told the National Assembly that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently in contact with Ministry of Interior and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for hosting a test and one-day series with Bangladesh in April or May this year.

Bijarani said that a delegation of Bangladesh is scheduled to arrive in the country in the first week of March. The interior ministry officials will brief the officials of BCB about the elaborated security arrangements of their visiting cricket team.

He said that the last international cricket match was played in Lahore against Sri Lanka between March 1 to 5, 2009.

The game was called off after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team on March 3.

After the unfortunate incident, no international cricket has been played in Pakistan and all home series are being played on neutral venues.