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UAE to host two Pakistan cricket series

Pakistan’s next two cricket home series against Sri Lanka and England will be played in the UAE, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Dilawar Mani confirmed to Khaleej Times on Tuesday.

“Pakistan have advised us that they would like to play the Sri Lanka and the England series in the UAE. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) arrived on the decision this morning,” Mani told Khaleej Times.

“The ECB very warmly welcomes the PCB decision to play Pakistan’s next two home series against Sri Lanka and England in the UAE. We reiterate that the UAE is the second home for the Pakistan team and we are absolutely delighted with the decision,” he added.

“We hope that both the series would be successful and keenly contested and cricket lovers in the UAE and the cricketing world will thoroughly enjoy the next two series,” Mani said.

Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in October-November. The series comprises of three Tests, five One Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International. The series will be split between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

International teams have been reluctant to play in Pakistan after the attack on the Sri Lankan team. The present security situation have kept all teams away from touring the country and Pakistan have had to play their home series at neutral venues like Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE.

The PCB had asked Sri Lanka to play the series in Pakistan but a recent attack on a naval base in Karachi has ruled that out. And the PCB were left with moving the series to a neutral venue again. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were also in the running along with the UAE but the economical costs of staging the series tilted it in UAE’s favour.

Sri Lanka had submitted their estimated expenses for hosting the full series but it was said to be on the higher side. There was also talk of splitting the series between Sri Lanka and the UAE with Sri Lanka hosting the Test matches and UAE staging the one-day internationals and the Twenty20.

“We are delighted to host it here. We gave the PCB economical costs and I’m sure they would make some good profit as well. I was aware that Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were also in the running but the PCB thought that the UAE will be the best option,” said Mani.

The Pakistan-England series will be held next January and also comprises of three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 International.

The UAE has previously hosted Pakistan’s series against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies.

james@khaleejtimes.com