ID :
36570
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 20:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/36570
The shortlink copeid
Sri Lanka agrees to tour Pakistan for Test series
Karachi, Dec 19 (PTI) Sri Lanka Friday agreed in
principle to tour Pakistan for a Test series next month giving
the PCB something to cheer about following India's decision to
call off its tour to the country in the aftermath of the
Mumbai terror attacks.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had sent an invitation to the
Sri Lankans after the Indian government Thursday pulled the
plug on its cricket team's tour of Pakistan, scheduled to
start from January 4.
"Arjuna Ranatunga, the President of Sri Lankan cricket
board has sent an answer in the affirmative to our invitation.
We are now working out the final details of the series,"
Saleem Altaf, chief operating officer of the PCB, said.
He said Sri Lanka would be playing three Tests and three
one-dayers besides taking on Pakistan in a Twenty20 game.
The Tests would be held in Karachi, Lahore and Multan
while the ODIs would be played in the first two places.
Karachi will also host the lone Twenty20 encounter.
"They are expected to reach Pakistan straight from
Bangladesh where they complete their tour around January 16,"
Altaf said.
Pakistan has been desperate to play Tests at home as the
national team has gone without a series since December last
year due to security concerns raised by other nations.
Pakistan also played just 21 One-day Internationals this
year, many of them against weak opponents like Zimbabwe and
Bangladesh.
Altaf said Sri Lanka's confirmation had come at a very
good time as Pakistan needed to revive international cricket
activities at home.
"We are really thankful to Ranatunga and other board
officials for coming to our rescue because we need to give
our team some international cricket and also generate
revenues," Altaf said.
Pakistan is expected to lose an estimated USD 20 million
due to the India team's pull out.
Meanwhile, Pakistan players Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid
Afridi welcomed Sri Lanka's confirmation.
"It is great news because we are desperate to play some
Test cricket. The cancellation of the Indian tour was very
disappointing for all of us yesterday," Afridi said.
Altaf said the reasons behind India's decision to pull
out of the tour would be discussed at a high level meeting of
the officials.
"What has happened has happened but we now need to look
ahead and plan for the future," he said.
He also said the issue of Pakistan players taking part in
the IPL and ICL would also come up for discussion in the
meeting.
"It is an issue that needs to be looked into. We will see
how to go about it. Indian board has told us they would
discuss cricket ties with us when conditions permit and
improve," he stated.
Akhtar said as far as the players were concerned they
would go by any policy decision the Pakistan government takes
regarding cricket ties with India. PTI Cor
SAK
NNNN
principle to tour Pakistan for a Test series next month giving
the PCB something to cheer about following India's decision to
call off its tour to the country in the aftermath of the
Mumbai terror attacks.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had sent an invitation to the
Sri Lankans after the Indian government Thursday pulled the
plug on its cricket team's tour of Pakistan, scheduled to
start from January 4.
"Arjuna Ranatunga, the President of Sri Lankan cricket
board has sent an answer in the affirmative to our invitation.
We are now working out the final details of the series,"
Saleem Altaf, chief operating officer of the PCB, said.
He said Sri Lanka would be playing three Tests and three
one-dayers besides taking on Pakistan in a Twenty20 game.
The Tests would be held in Karachi, Lahore and Multan
while the ODIs would be played in the first two places.
Karachi will also host the lone Twenty20 encounter.
"They are expected to reach Pakistan straight from
Bangladesh where they complete their tour around January 16,"
Altaf said.
Pakistan has been desperate to play Tests at home as the
national team has gone without a series since December last
year due to security concerns raised by other nations.
Pakistan also played just 21 One-day Internationals this
year, many of them against weak opponents like Zimbabwe and
Bangladesh.
Altaf said Sri Lanka's confirmation had come at a very
good time as Pakistan needed to revive international cricket
activities at home.
"We are really thankful to Ranatunga and other board
officials for coming to our rescue because we need to give
our team some international cricket and also generate
revenues," Altaf said.
Pakistan is expected to lose an estimated USD 20 million
due to the India team's pull out.
Meanwhile, Pakistan players Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid
Afridi welcomed Sri Lanka's confirmation.
"It is great news because we are desperate to play some
Test cricket. The cancellation of the Indian tour was very
disappointing for all of us yesterday," Afridi said.
Altaf said the reasons behind India's decision to pull
out of the tour would be discussed at a high level meeting of
the officials.
"What has happened has happened but we now need to look
ahead and plan for the future," he said.
He also said the issue of Pakistan players taking part in
the IPL and ICL would also come up for discussion in the
meeting.
"It is an issue that needs to be looked into. We will see
how to go about it. Indian board has told us they would
discuss cricket ties with us when conditions permit and
improve," he stated.
Akhtar said as far as the players were concerned they
would go by any policy decision the Pakistan government takes
regarding cricket ties with India. PTI Cor
SAK
NNNN
