LEEDS, Oct 23: Yorkshire have said they are keen to stage Pakistan ‘home’ matches at their Headingley headquarters ground.

The security situation in Pakistan, which led to the postponement of both a tour by Australia and this year’s Champions Trophy one-day tournament, has left the Asian nation struggling for international fixtures.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials and their Pakistan counterparts are due to hold talks about the possibility of Pakistan Tests, one-day and Twenty20 fixtures being played during the 2010 and 2011 English seasons.

Recent matches between England and Pakistan at Headingley have often seemed like ‘home’ games for the tourists such is the noisy and large support they draw from local Asian communities at the Leeds venue in northern England.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan told the Yorkshire Post: “We have already made our points to the ECB and if the opportunity came along, then Yorkshire County Cricket Club would be more than happy to stage a Pakistan ‘home’ Test.

“We believe it would be popular and well received in light of our location and our access to the highly-populated Asian areas in and around Bradford.”—AFP