LAHORE: The excruciating period of six long years without any international cricket at home is finally about to end for the millions of Pakistan cricket fans as discussions with Zimbabwe, a Test playing nation, enters the final stages for playing a five-match One-day International series here in May.

This was disclosed by chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar M. Khan while talking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday. The chairman said Zimbabwe were willing to tour Pakistan and the PCB, of course, is ready to welcome them with open arms despite the fact that the weather in Pakistan will be on the severe side with the mercury rising.

He said the two cricket boards would take a final decision on this series in the next couple of days on the sidelines of an ICC meeting scheduled later this week.

Agonising 6-year wait about to end for home fans

He said tentatively, Lahore would host three ODIs while Karachi will stage two. He said an Australian army cricket team was also be touring Pakistan by the end of April to play all matches in Rawalpindi against their Pakistan counterpart.

About the proposed full series between Pakistan and India in December this year, Shaharyar said chances were bleak that India would tour Pakistan but added that even if PCB could host India at a neutral venues such as the UAE, it would be a big step forward and a mark of success for PCB.

In a frank admission, Shaharyar said it would still take time to host leading cricket teams of the world in Pakistan since they were still apprehensive about the security issues.

To a question regarding discarded all-rounder Shoaib Malik being considered to replace injured Sohaib Maqsood in the Pakistan T20 squad for the Bangladesh series, Shaharyar said it would be premature to offer any comment on the matter. However, he added the standing instructions to the selectors were to give priority to the youngsters instead of relying on the old guard.

He said the PCB had a major task ahead to prepare a new team till the next World Cup and, for that purpose, maximum international cricket opportunities would be provided to both the Pakistan-A and junior teams.

It may be mentioned that Zimbabwe would become the first Test-playing country to tour Pakistan since March 2009 when the touring Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by a group of terrorists in Lahore which effectively ended all international cricket activity in the country.

Afghanistan and Kenya had visited Pakistan, recently, but the visit of Zimbabwe will be a significant one which coulld go a long way in persuading the other Test countries to resume their tours to Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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