PCB to confirm Australia series venue next week

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**PCB to confirm Australia series venue next week
Umar Farooq
May 20, 2012
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Malaysia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are among the countries Pakistan are considering as options to host their limited-overs series against Australia in August. The series was set to be held in Sri Lanka, but SLCpulled out last week due to a clash in the series schedule with the first season of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). The PCB said that a final decision on the venue will be taken within a week.
“It was indeed a setback to our plans when Sri Lanka pulled out,” Intikhab Alam, PCB director international cricket, told reporters in Lahore. “But they have their own reasons and we have no problem with it however and have been searching for alternatives. Malaysia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are the options we have marked. A decision will be taken within next one week.”
In March this year, the SLC had agreed in principle to host the series. At that time, there had been no decision on the SLPL. The proposed first season of the league had been cancelled last year and it was only earlier this month that a new deal was signed by the Sri Lanka board to hold the SLPL this August.
Pakistan and Australia are due to play five ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals against each other. The original plan was to play just one Twenty20, but with the World T20 immediately after the series, the countries’ boards have agreed to play two extra matches.
Pakistan have had to play their home series in neutral venues since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009. While the United Arab Emirates has been Pakistan second home away from home but due to the extra hot conditions in Emirates and the month or Ramzan the venue was ruled out form the scope.
Pakistan’s last home series against Australia was played in England, in the summer of 2010, after which they have hosted all their home series, including one against Sri Lanka and England, in the UAE.

Pakistan v Australia 2012: PCB to confirm Australia series venue next week | Pakistan Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

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Re: PCB to confirm Australia series venue next week

**Emirates Cricket Board offer to host 7 Match Pakistan and Australia T20 Series
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Emirates Cricket Board offer to host 7 Match Pakistan and Australia T20 Series

With the Sri Lanka Cricket Board expressing its inability to host a Limited overs Pakistan Vs Australia series due to a timing clash with the potentially lucrative Sri Lankan Premier League, the Pakistan Cricket Board is once again finds itself in the unenviable position of looking for a venue for a home series.

Given the importance of playing T20 internationals ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September of this year, the PCB is in desperate need of venues to hold these games due to the reluctance of foreign teams to visit Pakistan.

Intikhab Alam, the director of International operations for the PCB, has repeatedly asserted the official position that the PCB is committed to holding this series ahead of the World Cup. A few other alternatives have been suggested, including Malaysia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In addition the UAE which do seem to have a slight advantage due to their past experience in holding “home” games for Pakistan are also interested in hosting Pakistan once again, although no concrete decision has been taken on this matter – yet.

In exclusive remarks to PakPassion.net Dilawar Mani, CEO of The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), has confirmed that an offer by the ECB to host this series had been made and was under discussion by the PCB. He also offered the rationale behind the suggestion to arrange the matches in the desert emirate.

“The proposal to hold this limited overs series has been made and is under consideration by the PCB. The actual offer is for Pakistan and Australia to play a series consisting only of T20 games. Usually there are restrictions on the maximum number of T20 games that can be played in a year but, I am sure that the ICC can make a special dispensation especially given that the Twenty20 World Cup will be held this year” stated Mani.

One of the main reasons for hesitance to play cricket in the UAE is due to the possibility of day time temperatures soaring to 50C (+122F). Mani, whilst recognizing that atmospheric conditions are harsh feels that the games can be played by changing the structure of the series.

**“Instead of playing a mixture of T20s and ODIs – we are proposing that the teams play 7 Twenty20s **- with each game starting at 8pm to negate the effect of the sun. Heat may be a factor but for sportsmen this should not be a problem. In my experience, it’s usually the humidity that is sapping but in a 3 hour long T20 game with one side fielding for 1 and half hours, I don’t see a big issue for fit and professional cricketers. ”

Both Pakistan and Australia have played in the UAE in the past and playing conditions in terms of pitches will not be too different from those that will be encountered in Sri Lanka during the World Cup. Mani feels that this could be an important aspect of preparation by both teams for this tournament.

“We have offered 3 venues in the UAE to the PCB to play these games – these are Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. All three are excellent venues with world class facilities. We feel that instead of playing in a country like Zimbabwe, as suggested by some media reports, where wickets will be alien to the region hosting the World Cup, both Pakistan and Australia will be well served by playing a series in the UAE and I’m hopeful that the PCB will decide in our favour."