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SYDNEY, May 10: Morocco has emerged as a potential venue for Australia’s cricket series against Pakistan later this year, an Australian newspaper reported Friday.
A spokesman for the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) told The Age that Morocco was being considered along with the United Arab Emirates as possible ‘neutral’ venues for the series if it was moved from Pakistan.
Australia are scheduled to visit Pakistan in September and October but the tour is unlikely to proceed because of security concerns following the suicide bombing in Karachi this week that killed 14 people.
The New Zealand cricket team, who were staying in a hotel close to the blast Wednesday, immediately abandoned the remainder of their two-Test tour.
ACB spokesman Brendan McClements told the newspaper Australia wanted their series against Pakistan to go ahead and were already looking into the possibility of playing at a number of neutral venues, including Morocco.
“We’d be seeking more detail but we’re definitely open to discussion about that,” McClements said.
“It’s important for world cricket that Pakistan can continue to play.”
ACB chief executive James Sutherland said earlier this week that Australia would monitor the situation in Pakistan before deciding whether the tour would proceed.
Australia have already cancelled a two-Test tour of Zimbabwe because of fears of violence following the re-election of President Robert Mugabe. That tour was scheduled for April and May.—Reuters
APP adds:
ISLAMABAD: Australian cricketers can still tour Pakistan in September-October notwithstanding security concerns, according to sources here Friday.
Furthermore, the cancelled second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand may be held in October, the sources added.
Doubts have been raised by certain quarters whether Australia will actually go ahead with their scheduled tour of Pakistan in September-October in the wake of cancellation of Second Test against Pakistan by visiting Kiwi cricketers on Wednesday.
The New Zealand team flew home after cancelling the second Test which was the last game of their short tour of Pakistan, that began on April 17 and during which three One Dayers and two Tests were on the cards.
Australia are also to play three Tests and as many One Day Internationals against Pakistan in September-October. “The Aussies may still opt to visit Pakistan and Pakistan Cricket Board is trying its level best to reassure them as far as security is concerned”, a PCB official told APP.
“We are very much hopeful the ACB will come round to accepting our security arrangements and send their team to this country”, he said while speaking on condition of anonymity.
In a worst case scenario, the cricket circles hoped the series may be played at a neutral venue like Morocco or Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
“Pakistan will agree to playing this home series on neutral ground because our team will be seeking to avenge its 0-1 loss at home when Australia last visited Pakistan in 1998-99 and also to warm up for World Cup”, an official said.
The eighth edition of World Cup One Day Cricket Tournament is to be hosted by South Africa in February-March next year.
Pakistan are scheduled to tour South Africa for Tests and One Dayer and will also appear in a One Day competition at Sharjah (UAE) before the World Cup.
Pakistan played a two-Tests and three One Dayers “home” series against West Indies at the neutral venue of Sharjah in January- February this year.
“The precedent of a series being played on neutral venue is already there and if worse comes to worse, then Pakistan will play Australia on the neutral venue of Morocco or Sharjah”, according to an official.
