Pakistan cricket team is planning to tour the United States of America (USA) later this year. The decision was made during a meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) officials in Dubai.
A spokesman for the PCB said Thursday the USACA delegation was led by its chief executive officer Donald Lockerbie while PCB chief Ijaz Butt and chief operating officer Wasim Bari represented Pakistan. “The dates and types of matches to be played for the series has not yet been agreed.
But assurances were made by both parties that a long term agreement to play in the USA will begin with a series later in 2010,” added the spokesman. It is pertinent to mention that the USACA has even offered to organise Pakistan-India cricket series to ease out tensions between the two countries and serve the interest of cricket in sub-continent.
The dual benefits which may result from such a move include getting a foothold in the game’s expanding market in the USA, as well as boosting Pakistan’s chances of staging international cricket in the near future, given the fragile security situation in the country. The officials also hoped a Twenty20 series will attract huge interest from Pakistanis and Indians living in USA, as well as a global audience.
The spokesman said the series would help cricket grow in the country. “Pakistan playing as a full member in the USA is in line with the ICC policy to grow the sport in countries such as the USA and as the negotiations continue we hope a series will be played later this year.”
The PCB’s concept of having neutral venues for ‘home’ matches is not new. While Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have hosted series involving Pakistan previously, the Test series against Australia scheduled later this year will be played in England.
The spokesman said the PCB chief also had a meeting with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chairman Alan Isaac who had all praise for Pakistan team during the ICC Under-19 World Cup held in New Zealand and termed Pakistan as the best-behaved squad of the tournament.
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