SHARJAH (UAE), May 12: International cricket is set to make its debut in Morocco with a tri-nation tournament in Tangiers in August, officials said Sunday.

“South Africa and Pakistan have already confirmed their entries for the event,” said Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, chairman of the Cricketers’ Benefit Series, the organisers of international cricket in Sharjah.

“We are in discussions with Australia and Sri Lanka to finalise the third team for the tournament,” Bukhatir said.

The tournament, which will run from Aug 12 to 21, will have prize money totalling $250,000, with the winners taking home $120,000.

“An ICC team will be visiting Tangiers to inspect the stadium in June and I am pretty confident the venue will be approved since the facilities there are of international standard,” added Bukhatir.

Morocco is also being proposed as a potential neutral venue for Australia’s series against Pakistan.

Australia are scheduled to visit Pakistan in September and October but the tour is unlikely to proceed because of security concerns following the suicide bombing in Karachi.

Sharjah hosted a three-nation one-day series in April between Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka but Bukhatir said Morocco would be a preferable venue for the Australia series.

“It will be pretty hot and humid in Sharjah during September and October, hence it won’t be feasible to host the series there. But the weather will be fine in Tangiers,” he said.—Reuters