Long-term planning not feasible: PCB

Official insists focus on bringing teams to Pakistan.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has justified its cautious approach to hosting its home series at neutral venue, insisting that apart from the cricketing factor, the financial aspects also need to be looked into.

With Sri Lanka refusing to tour in October, the PCB has to look at neutral venues – including UAE and Sri Lanka – to ‘host’ the series.

Meanwhile, the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed ruled out a long-term planning for playing its series abroad, arguing that by doing so, Pakistan would weaken its stance on bringing international cricket back to the country if the situation in the country improves.

“Long-term planning to host international cricket away from Pakistan is something which is not acceptable and feasible for us,” said Ahmed. “We are looking at potential venues to host Sri Lanka but we have to look up the viability and the cost effectiveness. I agree that cricket takes precedence but the commercial aspects are equally important hence the reason behind us finalising things on a series-by-series basis.”

He added that the PCB was ‘happy’ with the way the series against Afghanistan turned out and that it, according to Ahmed, sent out a positive signal to the rest of the world that Pakistan was ready to host countries once again.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2011.