Sri Lanka and Pakistan to play series in the United Arab Emirates - Cricket News Update
According to credible sources within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), it has been learned that Sri Lanka and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE) this year.
The tournament is expected to take place after Sri Lanka’s series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, scheduled to take place next month.
According to SCL sources, officials from the Sri Lankan board and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after extended consultations chose UAE as the most appropriate neutral venue for Sri Lanka’s away series.
The event was originally expected to take place in Pakistan but due to the uncertain law and order situation in the country, the SLC deemed it inappropriate to send their team in harm’s way.
Earlier in 2009, Sri Lanka became the first cricket team to be targeted by terrorists inside Pakistan when the Lankans were touring the country for a series. The tourists came under attack when they were En route to the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The attack injured seven Sri Lankans and killed eight Pakistanis, causing the series to be immediately cancelled and the players were sent back to their loved ones in Sri Lanka. Since the attacks, the PCB has found itself entangled in a difficult situation
as foreign teams have avoided playing in Pakistan.
However, it was expected after the ICC world cup 2011, that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 might tour Pakistan this year for a full series but later some of the Sri Lankan players expressed reservations regarding playing in the terror hit country.
While teams are reluctant to tour Pakistan, they are more than http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
The presence of expatriates in the Gulf, serves the UAE as the best neutral venue for Pakistan and according to insiders, the PCB officials are now in the phase of finalizing dates for the Sri Lankan series.
Pakistan has now pinned hopes on a possible tour by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to resume International cricket in the country; however, no official word has been released by either board regarding the tournament.
India has refused to play any bilateral series with Pakistan since 2008 because of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup 2011, the Indian government had expressed
willingness to resume cricketing ties with their neighbouring country.
Tags: