KARACHI, Aug 12: The successful staging of the One-day International (ODI) between Pakistan and England will clear the way for holding a Test match against India later next year.

“We tried our best to convince England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to play a Test match in Karachi. It was our effort which eventually helped us get at least one ODI for Karachi,” PCB chief Shaharyar M.Khan claimed on Friday.

He dispelled the impression that in the absence of key PCB figures like himself, directors Saleem Altaf and Abbas Zaidi, lower ranking officials were unable to press or convince ECB security delegation to play a Test match in Karachi.

“ECB security delegation made their own observation during the tour in various parts of the country including Karachi and presented a report to their board,” he said.

“After this process ECB consulted their government and foreign office before deciding not to play a Test match in Karachi.

“They were not even ready to play an ODI but after our efforts, we convinced them to play a one-dayer in Karachi,” Shaharyar said.

He expressed his disappointment over a statement by a former Pakistan captain calling off the tour.

“If called off, Pakistan will go into cricket isolation,” he asserted. Shaharyar, however, expressed the hope that if everything went fine during England ODI, PCB would definitely like to hold both a Test match and ODI during Indian tour to Pakistan in January.

“By calling off the tour we could have lost US$10m,” he said. Regarding the progress on Shabbir Ahmed’s bowling action, he said coach Bob Woolmer was working on it and if required the paceman would be sent abroad to remove and rectify the problem.

WOOLMER BACKS KARACHI

Meanwhile, Pakistan Bob Woolmer said on Friday that England should have played a Test match in Karachi on the coming tour besides an ODI.

“I don’t see any security problem here and it is quite comfortable everywhere in Pakistan,” he said.

Woolmer stressed that he was fully aware of the disappointment of the Karachi cricket fanatics and followers of the game. “Karachi definitely have had a great cricket following in entire Pakistan,” said Woolmer.

He said keeping in view the current situation around the world no country can give 100 percent security guarantee.

“As far as I am concerned I found no problem here (Karachi),” who toured Pakistan as South African thrice maintained.—APP