Australia may play Pakistan in Morocco...

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1

This is an interesting idea. Does anyone has any info about cricket in Morocco?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/cricket/newsid_1978000/1978910.stm

Australia consider neutral plan

The Australian Cricket Board is considering the possibility of playing a series against Pakistan, scheduled for later this year, at a neutral venue.

The Australian team was due to tour Pakistan in September and October but it was thrown into doubt by a suicide bombing in Karachi earlier this week which prompted New Zealand to pull out of a Test match and fly home.

ACB spokesman Brendan McClements confirmed, however, that they were now looking at alternative venues, including Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

International Cricket Council rules permit countries to play at neutral venues if there are security concerns and Pakistan took on West Indies in Sharjah earlier this year.

Morocco has yet to stage international cricket but has a suitable stadium at Tangier, owned by the Cricketers’ Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), which also organises games in Sharjah.

“It’s important for world cricket that Pakistan can continue to play,” said McClements.

But moving the series to a neutral venue would have serious financial implications for the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Prior to the cancellation of the Karachi Test against New Zealand, the PCB had already lost more than $10m (£6.8m) in potential revenue since last September.

Earlier this a week, ACB chief executive James Sutherland said that as the tour was not due to begin until September, the situation was “clearly quite fluid”.

He added: “The ACB will continue to receive advice from the relevant experts to help the board make a proper judgement on the situation in Pakistan.”

The Board will not take any risks with player security and recently cancelled a tour of Zimbabwe because of the unsettled political situation.

The Pakistan team will, meanwhile, visit Australia for a series of three one-day internationals, two of them to be played indoors.

2

That's the most stupid thing I have ever heard. Especially when taking in consideration that a truck blow off a synagog, leaving 20 dead just couple of dayz ago. So where is the difference?!

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

3

This would be a stupid decision if who ever decides that the top 2 teams in the world would play in some 3rd class venue, I understand Pakistan shouldn't be the venue.

I would either suggest Sharjah or India.

4

[quote]
Originally posted by UMAIR316:
**This would be a stupid decision if who ever decides that the top 2 teams in the world would play in some 3rd class venue, I understand Pakistan shouldn't be the venue.

I would either suggest Sharjah or India.

**
[/quote]

india? u want bomb blast there too?

5

Nah!
Unless some Muslim fanatic follows our team then it will be a problem, just to see that Pakistan's record in India is preety good, we might have a channce of winning with a great crowd as well.

6

Umair, If that day comes, Trust me you will find me and my friends cheering for Waqar Younis and Team and rooting for Pakistan against the Australians.

AK

7

I truly believe with what asif bhai said. I noticed he even praised our players and of course got little critical but thas under different circumstances(the flaming topics and threads)

The fact is we arent the number one , we hardly proved ourself, we still yet to beat the teams like SA, AUS to prove our superiority.

coming back to topic..Why CBFS chose morroco as a cricket venue, sharjah makes sense but morroco? The attendence would be terrible considering the zero popularity of the cricket there, maybe I'm wrong..

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited May 11, 2002).]

8

Oki i can't keep quiet no more OUT OF ALL THE PLACES IN THE WORLD MOROCO?
Aussies don't wanna come let it be that way Pak shouldn't agree to play a series in Moroco. Even Sharjah doesn't make sense but Moroco???

9

I still remember, when it was India vs. Australia series, I was so damn happy that someone finally beat Australia, didn’t matter who it was

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

About Morroco, it’s good to see the game expanding to different horizons. Because those fat guys at Lords will never get this game far, it’s up to the rest of the world to take the initiative and spread the game of cricket.

Trust me, I’d love to see Morroco as a cricketing nation one day. Might as well start the plans now.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

P.S. I’m bored of Sharjah.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/tongue.gif

10

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/cricket/newsid_1983000/1983054.stm

Tangiers is being given serious consideration. ICC is likely to give the go ahead, as it appears the facilities are of international standard.

If Pakistan cannot play at home for whatever reason, then playing in Morocco is as good as any place.

What Pakistan needs now is to continue playing cricket at international level, especially with the world cup not too far away?

The size of the crowd at the test matches in Morocco should not be a problem. Afterall, how many people turn up to watch the test cricket in Pakistan?

[This message has been edited by 2bornot2b (edited May 12, 2002).]

11

The crowd matters!

You can't judge upon the number of crowds that appeared in Newzeland match in Lahore.
A match against Australia is a much different deal, alot of people will show up for that match, even if the facilities and the venue is first class in Tangiers but the most important thing should be the audience, will they be their, I don't think cricket is popular in Nothern Africa, I lived in Egypt for 3 months and I didn't see cricket on TV or outside.

12

Not only is it potentially going to host the series between Australia and Pakistan, but a tri nation tournament has been arranged as well.
http://sports.yahoo.com/m/sk/news/reuters/20020512/reu-morocco.html

Participating teams will be South Africa, Pakistan and either Australia or Sri Lanka. With the world cup round the corner it is good to see Pkaistan playing in all these tournaments against quality opposition. It can only help their preparation for the world cup, even if they don’t win these tournaments.

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited May 12, 2002).]