ECB Chairman Giles Clarke Wants Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan
In what is easily the most significant move for the revival of International cricket in Pakistan, the Chairman of the English and Wales Cricket Board, Giles Clarke, has said that the International Cricket Council is working on a plan to send a World Eleven to the country and play a series of matches in some of the major venues to ensure that the terror-ravaged country gets its share of top class cricket that has been jeopardized since the brutal attack on the Sri Lankan team during a Test match in Lahore last year.
Clarke, who heads a task force formed by the governing body of the game, claimed that the ICC was serious about the implementation of a plan that can ease the country into staging some sort of top class cricket in due course.
"World cricket must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward, to do something for the spectator in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755," Clarke said an interview in England. He emphasized that terrorists cannot be allowed to dictate terms anywhere in the world, and added, “The security challenges are enormous but we cannot allow the terrorists to win. They must lose by an innings – repeatedly.”
Clarke added that the world body needs to work with the leading boards across the world and convince them to tour the country and resume cricketing activities there, since the game cannot be allowed to wither away in one of the most passionate member countries of the body.
"So world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan. I do not think it will be possible for individual national teams to tour yet. But with determination and courage an ICC World XI in due course will go and play against Pakistan in her great cities and there will be a marvelous atmosphere,” asserted Clarke.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 added that Pakistan has a great tradition of the game and has produced some of the greatest names in the game; hence it simply can not be ignored.
"Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters. It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out."
Clarke also disclosed that the Pakistan Cricket Board has been severely hit by the lack of International cricket in the country, which has seen its income fall from £27 million to £10 million.
He added that the ECB plans to host more neutral matches featuring Pakistan to help the PCB. "The ECB intends to assist in staging more Pakistan games here [England] in 2011 and 2012."
Meanwhile, the much maligned Chairman of the PCB, former Test cricketer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128, welcomed the announcement, claiming that he was deeply touched by Clarke’s sentiments and wanted to thank him for his sympathetic approach towards the beleaguered nation. "I am very grateful to Mr. Giles Clarke, who is a dear friend of Pakistan, for pursuing our case and working tirelessly in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.”
It remains to be seen as to when Clarke’s idea is implemented, as a spokesman of the ICC revealed that despite the interest of the body, the staging of international cricket in Pakistan was still an idea that needed some time, as a lot of loose ends need to be tied before the revival.
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