Ireland, Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan uncertain after Karachi airport attacks

[sree45]

Uncertainty looms over the planned tours by Ireland and Sri Lankan cricket teams to Pakistan this year following the terrorist attacks at the Karachi airport.

“We were going to sign an agreement with the Ireland cricket body on the sidelines of the ICC executive board meeting in Melbourne this month. They had agreed to come and play three one-day internationals in Lahore in September,” a senior official of the board told PTI.

“We had also got positive vibes from Sri Lankan cricket authorities about the invitation we sent them last month to come and play a short one-day series anytime this year. But now, after this attack, it would be fair to say these projects appear very dim,” the official added.

He said the idea to invite Ireland came about as the board was keen to have some sort of international cricket in Pakistan.

“The English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Giles Clarke had played a part in helping us in this project and convincing Ireland it was safe to play in Pakistan and we would provide them top security. But now it appears everything has gone down the drain,” he said.

No Test team has played in Pakistan since March 2009, whene militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed and some of the visiting players also wounded leading to abandonment of the tour.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi had in recent press interactions hinted at giving some good news to Pakistani cricket fans and supporters and insisted the board was making serious efforts to get international cricket back to Pakistan.

Another official said the Sri Lankans had also reacted positively to the invitation sent to them.

“Now we have to start afresh and this incident also means that now when we go to the ICC meeting to sign bilateral agreements with different boards for the next five to eight years it will be hard convincing them to keep the option of playing in Pakistan open,” the official said.

He said Pakistan had negotiated well with some boards who had agreed to play bilateral series as part of the new FTP calendar.

Ireland, Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan uncertain after Karachi airport attacks - Latest Cricket News, Articles & Videos at CricketCountry.com

 

[BDforever]

Ireland talks over Pakistan tour on hold


Pakistan's hopes of reviving international cricket at home were dealt a big blow after Ireland decided to hold back on its ongoing discussion with the PCB regarding a proposed tour to Pakistan later this year, following the terrorist attacks on Karachi airport this week.

Ireland had been willing to tour Pakistan as early as September on the condition of security assurances, but the terrorist attacks in and around Karachi airport which has killed more than 30 people, have now ruled out the proposition. "Cricket Ireland and the PCB were in advanced discussions to play three ODIs in Pakistan in September," Barry Chambers, Cricket Ireland's spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.

"These discussions had taken place between the respective chairmen and CEOs over the past three weeks, and had involved contact with ICC, governments, and security advisors. There had been a preliminary agreement to play three games subject to a security review by credible experts, and agreement from the players and staff, which would have been the next stage of the process. With the recent tragic events at Karachi Airport, the series will now be deferred to a later date."

Pakistan has not hosted an international match since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009. However, ESPNcricinfo understands that upon the persuasion of ECB chairman Giles Clarke, Ireland became the first major cricket-playing nation to show their support to Pakistan, and were even willing to play in the country.

"Cricket Ireland is obviously very keen to secure as many fixtures as possible against Full Members, and these proposed games would have been very beneficial ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup," Chambers said.

Ireland had initially been invited to tour Pakistan early last year following Bangladesh's withdrawal from a scheduled series in January. The PCB tried hard to negotiate a home series with the BCB, but Bangladesh withdrew twice after seemingly having committed to the tour.

For the last three months, the PCB has been using diplomatic channels in a bid to win back lost confidence. There had been frequent visits by the European Union delegation at the PCB headquarters. Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, the head of the European Union delegation to Pakistan, had called on the PCB Chairman Najam Sethi in March, and this was followed by another delegation visit last month.

"The PCB is trying to bring back international cricket to Pakistan," Sethi had said. "Every diplomatic effort is being made for the revival of bilateral and other international cricket in this country."
source: Pakistan Cricket News: Ireland talks over Pakistan tour on hold | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[majesticpankaj]

PCB disappointed after Ireland cancel tour
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed disappointment Wednesday after Ireland cancelled a scheduled tour following a militant siege on Karachi airport that left 37 people dead, dashing hopes of reviving international cricket following a five year hiatus.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said arrangements for a three-match series with associate team Ireland were close to being finalised. “Ireland team was due to play three one-day matches in Lahore in the first week of September and a lot of effort had gone into convincing them. But all efforts have gone in vain again,” PCB spokesman Agha Akbar told AFP.

Earlier, Ireland had been willing to tour Pakistan, if they were provided satisfactory safety and security. However, their plans have been stalled due to the terrorist attacks in and around Karachi airport,

"Cricket Ireland and the PCB were in advanced discussions to play three ODIs in Pakistan in September," Barry Chambers, Cricket Ireland's spokesperson told ESPN cricinfo.

"Cricket Ireland is obviously very keen to secure as many fixtures as possible against Full Members, and these proposed games would have been very beneficial ahead of the 2015 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup," Chambers said.

This had been discussed by the respective chairman and CEOs during the course of the past three weeks and had also included contact with ICC, security advisors and government.

Following a preliminary agreement, it was decided that three games would be played between the two teams, subject to a security review by credible experts, as well as a mutual agreement from the players and staff. However, the series will now be held at a later date because of the deadly assault on Karachi airport.

Pakistan has not hosted an international cricket team to tour the country since 2009 when the Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by gunmen in Lahore.

No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since then and the team has been forced to play its ‘home’ matches at neutral venues.
PCB disappointed after Ireland cancel tour - Sport - DAWN.COM