Sport | Cricket
India tour of Pakistan hangs in the balance
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in a quandary over India's tour of Pakistan starting on January 9 as it has not received any confirmation that the tour is on.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:41 November 15, 2008
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
- PCB Chief Operating Officer Salim Altaf.
Abu Dhabi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in a quandary over India's tour of Pakistan starting on January 9 as it has not received any confirmation that the tour is on.
After the Indian government cancelled their junior hockey team's tour of Pakistan over security fears earlier this week speculation has been rife that the cricket tour could also meet the same fate which has resulted in the UAE and England offering to step in as neutral venues.
India is yet to send its security team to visit the venues in Pakistan and give a clearance after which the Indian Government has to give its green signal and this has resulted in the PCB having to just sit and wait for India's nod for the tour to go ahead.
Speaking to reporters at the Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Friday night, PCB Chief Operating Officer Salim Altaf said, "We have not heard anything from the Indian Board and until we hear something contrary, the Indian team will play the first match on the January 9 in Hyderabad and the first Test starts in Karachi on January 13. We are ready for it."
"Normally by now the security team should be coming. But we have not yet heard about it as of today," he said.
Delicate spot
The PCB finds itself in a delicate spot if it begins to chalk out 'Plan B' by looking at neutral venues as that would effectively mean that apart from the upcoming tour by India, their home series against Australia in March and the Champions Trophy in September next year would also be jeopardised.
"Our chairman [Ijaz Butt] has a flexible approach and if a situation arises [India pulling out] we have the option of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE and England. But at this point we are working towards hosting India in Pakistan," he said.
"But I must tell you that in the past when we have played in neutral venues the revenues earned has not been encouraging," Altaf said.
Asked whether India may be considered as a venue, Altaf said all options were open. The PCB will also be finalising the TV rights for the Future Tours Programme (FTP) over the next five years soon.
"Tomorrow [November 16] is the last date for submission of bids and we will be opening it shortly. However this has nothing to do with where the matches are played but covers the rights for the FTP over the next five years," Altaf said.
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