Cricket: British universities team confirms Pakistan tour

Lashings also keen to tour isolated country.


Our Correspondent March 29, 2012

KARACHI: With Bangladesh’s proposed tour of Pakistan looking unlikely with every passing day, the confirmation that the British Universities team will arrive next month has given a much needed boost to the country’s cricket board.

The team, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will arrive in Lahore on April 2 to play two one-day games against the PCB U-19 on April 4 and 6 at Gaddafi Stadium before its departure on April 8.

Pakistan has not hosted an international match since March 2009 following the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. Although the country hosted Afghanistan in the last three years, the PCB is now looking forward to the forthcoming series with high hopes, especially after the Bangladesh tour looks a bleak possibility.

“It’s a good development at this juncture,” PCB director Intikhab Alam told The Express Tribune.  “This might be the end of the drought of international cricket in Pakistan. The series will definitely send a positive message to the rest of the world.”

Lashings show interest as well

Just days after former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif urged the PCB to consider inviting Lashings, the Kent-based all-star team, the businessman behind the club has given a thumbs-up to the tour.

“I’d be delighted to take a team to Pakistan,” David Folb told ESPNcricinfo. “Latif is a man who I have the utmost respect for and if he says it’s safe for us to travel there we’d be delighted to do so. The security of the players is the top priority, but if that’s guaranteed and the money is right, I don’t see it as a problem at all.

“It’s possible we could go as soon as next month. We would be honoured to play there if the PCB would have us.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Amir | 11 years ago | Reply

@Ehtesham Sazzad: absolutely nonsence . So do you mean that bangladeshi team is very clean and they never claim wicket in that way. Have you forgot the catch by wicket keeper of umar akmal in the asia cup final or should i give many other instances. Latif has accepted this and he did it for pakistan obviously. So please be realistic

jimmy | 11 years ago | Reply

This might be the end of the drought of international cricket in Pakistan :) lol seriously just because some club team from UK visits your country...it does not mean countries like australia, west indies, new zealand, england , south africa and ind (depends on the mood of our politicians :P ) will come to play in pakistan !! its a fact.. according to me pak should be allowed to host matches after the 2015 WC.... if the situation doesnt improve thn only option- 2020 !!

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