Pakistan was forced to play its home series in the UAE, New Zealand and England as foreign teams refused to tour them over security fears. Following the terrorists’ attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stripped Pakistan of its share of 2011 World Cup matches.
Pakistan have played the West Indies, Australia and New Zealand in the UAE and are currently playing South Africa in a series shifted here after their rivals refused to tour them. Dilawar Mani, chief executive of Emirates Cricket Board, said he has offered Pakistan the chance to stage their series against Sri Lanka here next year and then host England a year later. “We don’t want to be seen as opportunists, but since Pakistan are unable to stage its cricket at home we want them to decide on their series against Sri Lanka and England before time so that we can prepare,” said Mani.
He said the Abu Dhabi cricket Stadium is fast catching the eyes of international teams. “Abu Dhabi will stage the ICC shield match between UAE and Namibia in December this year and then the ICC Second Division cricket league next year, so we have been getting enough cricket and besides that we want Pakistan to play here regularly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2010.
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