LONDON: While refuting impression of any hostility between his organisation and the Indian cricket board, PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt on Wednesday defended hosting of ‘home series’ against Australia next summer in England, saying the country is not only an ideal place as such but cost effective as well.

Addressing the ‘Pakistan Tour of England 2010’ media conference at Lord’s on Wednesday evening, Ijaz termed England a much better venue for Test matches in terms of facilities as compared to the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh or Malaysia.

Responding to a question, he said the UAE does not have necessary facilities for Tests for which the pitches must be good enough to last for five days.

The PCB chief endorsed the UAE for hosting One-day Internationals or Twenty20 games but not Tests, saying that is why England has been preferred for the ‘home series’ against Australia.

Ijaz further said the tracks in the UAE have not been tested for Tests but a game could be held on experimental basis in future to determine the nature of the pitches there.

In England, Pakistan will play two Twenty20 Internationals and as many Tests against Australia from July 5 to 25 before facing England in a four-Test series in August.

The two Twenty20 games will be played in Birmingham on July 5 and 6 while Lord’s (July 13-17) and Headingley, Leeds (July 21-25) will stage the Tests.

In view of the precarious security situation back home, the PCB chief said, playing on neutral venues gives the young Pakistan cricketers a chance to prove themselves in different circumstances.

‘With the current difficult situation in Pakistan, we would like our boys to have the opportunity to play in various conditions, specially the youngsters who have gained places in the national team. If they don’t get this opportunity, it is very difficult for them to improve,’ Ijaz said.

He, however, expressed the desire to see international cricket returning to Pakistan as soon as possible. ‘We hope the situation improves and we have teams coming to Pakistan.’

Ijaz denied there is any animosity between the Indian and Pakistan cricket boards, claiming that during his recent visit to India, he held detailed talks with all the people concerned who are willing to help Pakistan cricket.

On the 2011 World Cup hosting issue, the PCB boss indicated that though the mega event had been taken away from Pakistan on security grounds, if the situation improves to the satisfaction of the ICC in the coming months, Pakistan’s share of matches could be held on the home soil.

Ijaz said Pakistan’s domestic season continues unhindered and up to 700 matches are scheduled to be played in all formats in several big cities.

Ruling out inviting any foreign clubs to Pakistan, the board chief asserted the domestic club system is working very well in the country and that the PCB is more interested in having foreign national teams visit Pakistan.

To a question, he stated morale of the cricketers is high even though they have not been playing at home, saying if that had not been the case, Pakistan would not have clinched the World Twenty20 crown in England.

Meanwhile, Giles Clarke, Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) who was also present on the occasion, said no security adviser would recommend teams to visit Pakistan currently, adding the country faces many challenges and those in the world of cricket support Pakistan very much.

‘Pakistan is a very important Test-playing nation. It is important that they play Test cricket instead of only ODIs and Twenty20 games. To maintain international standard you have got to play Test cricket in different places,’ Clarke emphasised.

The ECB chief said with a substantial Pakistani community present in the UK, the next year’s series against Australia will not be considered a painful away fixture for Pakistan.

On the issuance of visas for the Pakistanis wishing to come to the UK for the matches next year, Clarke said it is a matter for the British government to decide.—APP