Kenya set to tour Pakistan in December
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LAHORE: Kenya are set to tour Pakistan to play against a second-string team as part of efforts to revive top-flight international cricket in the country, five years after it was halted due to a terror attack.
Kenya will tour next month for five one-day games, said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan.
“We have been making efforts to bring smaller teams to Pakistan and the object is to open the door for teams to our country, and we have got the government's clearance on that,” Khan told AFP.
Pakistan have not hosted any international cricket since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring nine. Team members were among the injured.
Bangladesh twice backed away from touring for a short series in 2012 and a year later, citing security fears. Ireland were due to play a short limited-over series in Pakistan in September this year, but militant attacks on Karachi airport resulted in the tour being called off.
Khan last month visited Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India to lobby for tours to resume. He was also in negotiations with Kenya, who lost their one-day international status last year.
Khan said he hoped Kenya's tour would open the door for others.
“Look, we hope that international teams will follow suit and we are doing this step by step,” said Khan.
“Kenya would thus become the second national team after Afghanistan to have visited this country since 2009. “Afghanistan played a one-day series against Pakistan 'A' in 2011.
The PCB said Kenya would arrive on December 11 and play five matches -- all in Lahore -- on December 13, 15, 16, 18 and 20.
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Comments (54) Closed
Nov 25, 2014 03:56pm
Pakistan 5 - Kenya 0 ... and Pakistan has a chance to score 500 total ODI runs and 300 individual score ...come on go for it ... ;)
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Nov 25, 2014 04:08pm
Why the cricket matches against Kenya is only planned for Lahore. Karachi draws much bigger crowds and also is a major part of Pakistan than Lahore.
Who cares about Lahore. And why only players are chosen from Lahore. Why not from karachi. Such Bias and racist people exists in pakistan.
Karachi should form its own national team.
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Nov 25, 2014 04:10pm
A good starting point, PCB and govt must ensure 100% tight security, the eyes of the entire cricket world will be on us. I don't care if we lose 5-0 as long as the tour goes by with no problems. The security needs to be as if it was a G7 summit.
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Nov 25, 2014 04:11pm
No problem for Kenya. They are used to Westgate and Al-Shabab massacres.
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Nov 25, 2014 04:15pm
you cant host a cricket match, but will point at India for everything and anything at the possible opportunity? how realistic
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Nov 25, 2014 04:16pm
@Kaps
No sir, we dont have short boundaries and extremely batsman friendly tracks UNLIKE our neighbours :)
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Nov 25, 2014 04:32pm
You're Known By The Company You Keep!
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Nov 25, 2014 04:37pm
@Kazim Mirza every body cares for Lahore cares for Karachi. you cannot be oblivious of the Law n Order situation in Karachi. dont be naive, if a team is coming, donot bring local issues in this. you should be grateful to Kenya that they agreed to visit and Play in Pakistan.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:00pm
@Kaps Come on, there is nothing to tease about. We should support and acknowledge efforts by Sheheryar Khan. And please read carefully, Kenya would play "2nd string of Pak team" so it would also give experience to our youngsters.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:01pm
@Arshad very well said, I totally agree with you.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:07pm
Great News , but as I have said before, wait until certail people hear of this in our neighbouring countries , they will do something to make this trip be cancelled, look at the major attacks in Pak in the last 2 year, all have come after some good news in the media. I really hope I am wrong, but I'm a realist and can easily see the bigger picture.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:11pm
Can we hear something about the security arrangements also. If PCB mess this up, then there will be no chance of cricket in Pakistan.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:16pm
@Kazim Mirza When UK can have a team form England and another for Scotland, why can't ours?
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Nov 25, 2014 05:23pm
@franklyspeaking - So, what is your point?
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Nov 25, 2014 05:24pm
Government of Pakistan should give fool proof security because our neighbors would not like to see any team playing in Pakistan,
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Nov 25, 2014 05:25pm
Pakistan is inviting a terrorist attack.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:27pm
@Kaps - Couldn't tell if you were trying to be humorous or what. I am sure you like it when your substandard batsmen score double centuries at home in grounds with small boundaries only to realize what they are really made of when they tour abroad. Also, take a look at the overall test and ODI record between your team and Pakistan and that will make you think twice before you comment here.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:34pm
@Kazim Mirza shahid afridi he was from KPK but then transfer to Karachi..now he's a karachite..and above All hes a Pakistani
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Nov 25, 2014 05:35pm
@Avinash be more specific :-), Pakistan is inviting an Indian backed terrorist attack.
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Nov 25, 2014 05:47pm
I think PCB should not invite Kenyan team presently,, Just wait for another 2/3 years when peace is fully restored in Pakistan by great Pak Army.. Our Police is busy in dharnas and protesters and agitations etc.
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Nov 25, 2014 06:28pm
please make correction ---- "Kenya set to tour Lahore only"
Why all matches are in Lahore ? In fact the unfortunate event against SL team was happened in Lahore !
Why other cities - Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot, Hyderabad are being given equal opporunity. Take some lesson from BCCI who schedule matches in every corner of the country and do not limit only to one city !!
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Nov 25, 2014 06:28pm
Enjoy Kenya !
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Nov 25, 2014 06:33pm
Love to see cricket matches again in the Pakistani grounds. Good job PCB.
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Nov 25, 2014 06:44pm
an international team is touring pakistan. this itself shows the place is heading towards normalisation.
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Nov 25, 2014 06:50pm
Only chance to increase batting averages.
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Nov 25, 2014 06:50pm
Check out if Mongolia plays cricket ?
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Nov 25, 2014 06:55pm
No record will be record because kenya is not a test status country.
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Nov 25, 2014 06:57pm
@Kaps Kenya will play against Pakistan "A". If the result will be 5-0, ANY PROBLEM, NEIGHBOUR?
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Nov 25, 2014 07:01pm
@Nisar I agree with you. Something will happen before the tour. Then neighbor will say, no we have no hand in this incident.
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Nov 25, 2014 07:02pm
@A Pakistani, I agree with you.
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Nov 25, 2014 07:03pm
@Avinash, we know that. We also know that who and where that attack will be planned.
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Nov 25, 2014 07:04pm
No tour would have been better than this!!
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Nov 25, 2014 07:33pm
@Usama But you will have kenyan bowlers !!!!ha ha ha
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Nov 25, 2014 07:47pm
It will be a calculated risk for the Kenyans.
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Nov 25, 2014 07:54pm
@Usama Right that is the reason cricketing world and world best cricketer egar to play IPL but prefer to stay away from your so called beautiful,lovable person country .And Kenya has no status in one day game so nothing to loose for them but it shows your country real place in future your country will play with other country where they have no status and still you claim big 4
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Nov 25, 2014 08:04pm
Since the attack on Sri Lankan team years ago no one has come to Pakistan so far and Kenya is set to become first team to tour our country. That the Sri Lankans were attacked does not mean that every team would be dealt with accordingly. However, considering the way the terrorists have succeeded in carrying out attacks on even secured targets there remains a chance of attacking visiting teams too and this is the main reason - the scare - which is stopping teams to visit Pakistan. If and when terrorist activities come to a halt the foreign teams would line up for sure. But till then we have to wait...and go on waiting.
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Nov 25, 2014 09:19pm
@Avinash 100% agree with u
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Nov 25, 2014 10:32pm
@Avinash - I am sure that is exactly what you want.
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Nov 25, 2014 10:38pm
Please provide fool proof security!
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Nov 25, 2014 11:19pm
We will let you win - just please come to Pakistan to play !
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Nov 25, 2014 11:39pm
Karibu Kenya.. & Hakuna Matata!
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Nov 25, 2014 11:55pm
Why all five ODIs in Lahore .. Karachi has alway being neglected
Lots of talented boys in Karachi but the selection committee is always discriminated Karachi
>> Just to remind all that the attack on SL Team was in Lahore not in Karachi
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Nov 26, 2014 12:50am
Good News for Pakistani Cricket fans, Congratulations.
Hope more and more international teams come to play in Pakistan.
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Nov 26, 2014 02:04am
Sir,
Instead of wasting time and money the government of Pakistan must concentrate to flush out terrorism and extremism from Pakistan. The investors , sportsmen and other opportunities will open with peace in the country!!!
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Nov 26, 2014 03:37am
I still want Sri Lanka team to come back and play cricket in at least four cities of Pakistan before any other international team. PCB should work hard to bring back Sri Lankan team first for play.
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Nov 26, 2014 04:10am
It will help Pakistan cricket and raise its standard. I hope Pakistan wins.
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Nov 26, 2014 05:25am
wow Pakistan tarraki kar raha hai!
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Nov 26, 2014 07:55am
Kenya, along with Canada and Netherlands, have lost their ODI status after poor performance in the World Cup qualifiers. They have been replaced by UAE, Hong Kong and PNG. So matches against Kenya will not be recognised as international one dayers. Pakistan will field a second string team to make the matches more competitive. Outcome of these matches is not important. The whole point is to try and regain the confidence of other nations and prove to them that it is safe to play in Pakistan.
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Nov 26, 2014 08:31am
@Kazim Mirza My Friend: It would be a daunting task to bring back ANY International cricket back in Pakistan. It is easier said then done. It is a wise move to bring someone at Lahore where security measures are relatively less challenging than Karachi and Peshawar.
It's time to take baby steps and go one step at a time. Hope you'll get the message in correct perspective, However 5 matches at one venue looks a little absurd.
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Nov 26, 2014 09:25am
@Arif Ali do you guys not read any of the articles properly. Kenya will only play Pak A Team not the main first team. There will not be any ODI or Tests to register averages for international purposes.
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Nov 26, 2014 09:27am
@Jeet read the article. PAK are not playing only there second team.
WHY ARE YOU GUYS SO NIEVE?
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Nov 26, 2014 09:31am
@Milind
Yeah, we dont visit our neighbours. But when we do, we make sure to defeat them convincingly ;) Your local rohit can ONLY smash 264 against any team other than pak.. Do recall the total when pak played on that particular ground :p
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Nov 26, 2014 09:35am
@Hyder there is no public money wasted. Advertising pays for the trip and matches. You have to invest to make money even if you lose some at eary stages.
You have to make a start some where, otherwise there will be not cricket or economy generated from sport whatsoever. i e business for local hotels, suppliers, catering, transportation, work for unemployed people and income fot thr local clubs and players. This is called economy, be it of a very small amount.
A start of any sort is better than nothing.
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Nov 26, 2014 12:36pm
@irshad The so infamous attack on a foreign team which led to the death of international cricket in Pakistan took place in which city- Lahore.
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