Yorkshire chief keen to host Pakistan-India clash

LEEDS: Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has admitted that he would love the English county’s Headingley ground to provide a neutral venue for a Test match between Pakistan and India.

With few Test teams willing to visit Pakistan at present due to security issues, the country’s cricketers have been forced to play their ‘home’ series against Australia in England.

Regan, who has just overseen the development of a new £21 million pavilion, believes the improved facilities are worthy of hosting further high-profile matches in the future. “There’s talk of Pakistan playing India next year, and we want to be at the forefront of the queue to host one of those games,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“With Pakistan unable to play in their own country at present due to security concerns, it’s the sort of match we’d love to bring to Headingley Carnegie if Pakistan continue to use England as a neutral venue.

“That’s one of the reasons this week’s fixture is so important to us.”

“If we can make a success of Pakistan versus Australia, it puts us in the shop window to host a potentially bigger fixture further down the line.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2010.