The International Cricket Council has urged Pakistan to explore overseas venues for their home matches as foreign teams refuse to visit in the wake of the Lahore terror attack.
"If Pakistan manages to play at neutral venues like Dubai, Ireland, England or elsewhere it would be too good for all us," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat was quoted as saying in The News.
The ICC stripped Pakistan of their co-hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup last week due to security fears after seven members of the Sri Lanka cricket team were injured and six police officers and a van
driver were killed in a terror attack on their way to Gaddafi Stadium during the second test on March 3.
"The problem is that nobody wants to come to Pakistan," Lorgat said.
"We in the ICC are trying our best to keep Pakistan playing at neutral venues by telling the other nations to fulfill their commitments."
Pakistan leads Australia 1-0 in their five-match limited-overs series in the United Arab Emirates, which was shifted from Pakistan on Australia's insistence before the Lahore attack.
Australia last year also postponed their scheduled tour to Pakistan, while the Champions Trophy was moved from Pakistan to South Africa due to ever-growing security concerns by foreign teams.
"Pakistan must admit that the leg of a chair is broken," Lorgat said. "Then they would be able to fix it and find a place to be seated, otherwise, by crying or not admitting that the leg is broken wouldn't help Pakistan to manage its cricket affairs." |
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