LONDON, CMC – West Indies could play their Test and limited overs series against Pakistan later this year in Sri Lanka, after international media reports Monday said the Pakistan Cricket Board was mulling over moving the games from the United Arab Emirates.
According to noted cricket website, ESPNCricinfo, the PCB are anxious to avoid the large budget associated with staging games in the UAE, and have asked Sri Lanka Cricket for an estimate of costs in staging matches there.
“Yes, they have approached us,” SLC secretary Mohan de Silva confirmed. “We will put the budget together and send it back to them. It will depend on whether it is a financially viable option for them to host a series here.”
Pakistan has not hosted an international series in seven years since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by armed militants en route to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a Test match, back in 2009.
With the security situation in the country remaining volatile since, the PCB have been forced to stage their home tours in the UAE.
The recent inaugural Twenty20 domestic league, the Pakistan Super League, was hosted in Dubai and Sharjah.
But cost concerns are now forcing PCB officials to re-think the UAE as a venue.
“We are concerned about rising costs of hosting matches in the UAE, and if Sri Lanka is significantly cheaper then we shall consider it as an option,” ESPNcricinfo quoted a PCB spokesman as saying.
West Indies are scheduled to play two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s against Pakistan in October and November.
Last month, the West Indies Cricket Board turned down an invitation from the PCB to play a few of the limited games in Pakistan.
