PCB to shift 'home' to Malaysia if UAE fails to keep Oct-March corridor exclusive

E-Paper | May 30, 2026

Seeking to protect its commercial interests, especially the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to provide written assurance that the latter will not host any other league during the October-March corridor, a top PCB official told DawnNewsTV on Sunday.

"We have sought written assurances from the ECB that they will not host any T20 Leagues from October 2018 to March 2019 which could create a conflict of interest with our bilateral fixtures with Australia and New Zealand, and the PSL," the official said.

The PCB has also made it clear to the ECB that it will look to Malaysia as a potential home venue if it fails to provide the assurance, he added. "If they do not give us these firm commitments, then we will consider the option of moving our fixtures to Malaysia. We have checked their facilities and they are up to the mark," the official concluded.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has already revealed that its T20 League will be held in the UAE in October this year. A T10 league is also lined up to take place in the UAE towards the end of the year.

The PCB had faced criticism last year for allowing its players to feature in the T10 league happening in UAE just months ahead of the PSL's third edition. The board, however, had defended its stance saying it would have no impact on the league.

The UAE has been serving as Pakistan's 'home' for the past few years after an attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore forced international cricket out of the country.

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Prateik

Apr 29, 2018 03:17pm

PSL is welcome in UAE. But it is a unreasonable demand that no other tournaments should be conducted during the six months.

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Love Pakistan

Apr 29, 2018 03:19pm

Well done

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Dr. M. A. Khan

Apr 29, 2018 03:20pm

When will the "home" fixtures really come home?

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Vikram Sood

Apr 29, 2018 03:21pm

This beats all business logic, if terms are not adhered, move out quietly to another place, by giving ultimatums why burn bridges with Emirates! The PCB guys need basic MBA lessons!

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Nadim

Apr 29, 2018 03:22pm

Malaysia is not a good venu due to weather, lack of expats, distance, time difference and visa difficulties. PCB officials need to do its homework before floating such ideas. They should look into other options I.e. Qatar

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Apr 29, 2018 03:30pm

It may make sense to keep PSL in UAE if PCB wants to keep more games in Pakistan (so the players can fly in and out) but please shift the bilateral series to Malaysia anyway as the UAE pitches are doing more harm to Pakistan test cricket than any good.

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RRS

Apr 29, 2018 03:40pm

Pakistan should look for its interest first but PCB should manage it diplomatically. Above press release sounds bit harsh.

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M A MUJEEB, CANADA

Apr 29, 2018 03:40pm

Moving PSL or Australia and New zealand series will be a financial disaster.

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Ramesh

Apr 29, 2018 03:48pm

Why Malaysia? England is the best option, given the huge number of Pakistani diaspora.

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BhaRAT

Apr 29, 2018 03:58pm

Nepal will be a better place to play our home matches as Nepalis are cricket enthusiast most matches will draw quite a big crowd and will help their cricket aswell

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Majid

Apr 29, 2018 04:01pm

Why Malaysia and Dubai?Why not China?China is home away from home for Pakistan.

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Umair

Apr 29, 2018 04:08pm

So still no cricket at home?? If we keep playing outside in UAE and malaysia, we can never convince teams to come home. Stupid PCB.

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A shah

Apr 29, 2018 04:14pm

How many Pakistanis in Malaysia?

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Inayath

Apr 29, 2018 04:18pm

Wow!! Look at the sounding of this approach, one reason you lose friends is your attitude. UAE is not bonded by anything to support PCB, why such a harsh attitude? Play at home what's stopping you ?

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 29, 2018 04:27pm

Consider moving to Malaysia because for sure, the powerful, rich and resourceful Indian lobby will force ECB to cerate a rift with PCB and make all efforts to throw a spanner in the smooth conducting of PSL 2018 on the UAE soil.

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Zayan

Apr 29, 2018 04:42pm

@Nadim Qatar only have one cricket ground which is also not suitable due to its location.

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DIL DIL PAKISTAN

Apr 29, 2018 05:10pm

Yes pakistan cricket intrest is the first periorty.we support pcb decision

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TBH

Apr 29, 2018 05:16pm

PSL is truly moving across world. Great going

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Lord Richmond

Apr 29, 2018 05:19pm

UAE never a friend. Need to replace them

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Altaf Mirza

Apr 29, 2018 05:36pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dr. Salaria that means indians have already succeeded in shifting your venue to Malaysia. This is as per your logic. From Malaysia where next Nepal?

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Daniel

Apr 29, 2018 05:54pm

Keep hopping from one place to another...

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Joe

Apr 29, 2018 05:55pm

Very interesting .UAE now gives more importance to Afghanistan than Pakistan.Any BCCI angle to this.?

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Saffron

Apr 29, 2018 06:25pm

@Ramesh you are correct. ECB will keep their grounds open between November to March.

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Wondering

Apr 29, 2018 06:28pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Your over jeaulous and hateful comments always defy logic

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IFTIKHAR TURAB

Apr 29, 2018 07:02pm

Play in Doha Qatar.

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Zoraiz Zafar

Apr 29, 2018 07:10pm

@Inayath PCB pays sky-high booking fees which would be substantially low in Malaysia.

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Javed

Apr 29, 2018 07:21pm

PCB stands for 'Pakistan Cricket Board', it is high time that Pakistan is the 'home' rather than Dubai or Malaysia.

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PakistanFirst

Apr 29, 2018 07:26pm

Nepal is not possible as it has cold winters - personally PCB should try hard to move all forms of cricket back to Pakistan as soon as possible while holding other matches in places like Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.

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riaz

Apr 29, 2018 07:40pm

Ramesh......nobody plays cricket in October / November in England! do your homework. As to Malaysia as an option is also not suitable, due to weather conditions, poor pitches and facilities. You may get away with T20 games but not test matches. The pitches will not last 2 days! I live in Malaysia

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DR Sethi

Apr 29, 2018 07:54pm

UAE cant give commitment to PCB for march 2019 Because IPL might move to UAE because of Indian general elections. Read news.

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Kunal Dhaka

Apr 29, 2018 08:00pm

From UAE to Malaysia cricket is going places from Pakistan. Who is at fault for this situation?

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Azad

Apr 29, 2018 08:12pm

Punching above the weight, yet again!

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Neo

Apr 29, 2018 08:27pm

@Prateik. Why is it unreasonable. If anything schedule and venues should have been confirmed sooner with ECB by PCB. You should know that there are elements that don't want Pakistan cricket to flourish.

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Rain or shine

Apr 29, 2018 09:23pm

Being the entire PSL to Pakistan. Stop wasting money in UAE

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Iqbal

Apr 29, 2018 09:28pm

Home is always OUR OWN. Please dont consider UAE/Malaysia/abc as permanemt home. It will just take one call from BCCI to cancel our schedules there. We should strive to build safer cities and play our home games in pakistan. Untill then based on availability should choose any availablr options..should not fixate

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Pak-UK

Apr 29, 2018 09:49pm

Sad estate but fair call by PCB.

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Azad

Apr 29, 2018 10:34pm

This doesn't even make any sense. The Pakistani population UAE is about 1.2 million whereas in Malaysia is just around 55,000. It seems Najam Sethi has not thought this through properly.

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usman78)

Apr 29, 2018 11:04pm

@Prateik let's organize in Qatar

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Sarai Alamgir

Apr 30, 2018 12:26am

This is the BCCI pitting pressure on UAE, to stop the Pak team playing in the coubtry plus sabbtage the PSL. When will the Pakistanis wake up and realie that since Modi took power, the UAE has been very aggressive towards Pak.

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Tarzan

Apr 30, 2018 12:29am

Now threatening others again, this time with business. You don’t have the juice to threaten

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Nasr

Apr 30, 2018 12:33am

Malaysia and cricket that does not seem to connect.

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Ali Vaqar Awan

Apr 30, 2018 03:14am

Its time PCB should make move to have PSL and bilateral series in Pakistan rather than other countries. Otherwise, it will give negative signals to other countries. Holding home series at neutral venues is not a viable for revenues and profits.PCB should work hard on building confidence of other nations to play in Pakistan. Next target of PCB should be holding ODI series in Pakistan and all PSL matches in Pakistan.

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Jeev

Apr 30, 2018 05:53am

As if Pakistan goes to Malaysia, UAE will not have tournaments during that period. Pakistan always negotiates with a loaded gun on its own head!

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Ash2000

Apr 30, 2018 07:11am

It seems commentators here think BCCI is so powerful and have no work other than trying to impede PCB. Guys, BCCI has no interest in PCB and don’t care what PCB do or where they play.

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Seeker

Apr 30, 2018 08:20am

Why not hold PSL in Pakistan. At least some overseas players will come. If they feel safe more will join next year. It will save great deal of money too. Unless Pakistani authorities dont feel confident or some parties are making money by holding the tourney abroad.

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R. K. Sonawane

Apr 30, 2018 03:10pm

This way, PCB will be spreading cricket throughout the World and the sport of cricket will become truly International.

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Raj

Apr 30, 2018 11:56pm

This is one of the worst thing I have heard / seen in a global diplomacy. UAE is doing PCB a favor by hosting cricket and now PCB is threatening UAE? Where does it make sense? And even if you are demanding something there is a way to say do not hold any other fixture during these six months. Threats like, otherwise I will move to another country, are seen as a bluff. If UAE government says go ahead and move, PCB does not have options that are equally good. And that says PCB should force their government to host cricket in Pakistan. That solves all problems.

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Salman

May 01, 2018 07:52am

Logic dictates, that an event to be held in a place, where there is more likelyhood of gaining participants\audiences or ticket purcahsing public. Malaysia seems to be poor choice. Not many expats of Pakistan origin there. Why not USA or Canada.

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