Internationals 'may return' to Pakistan

22 Oct 2012, 9:40 am   -   Source: AAP
The Pakistan Cricket Board hopes international cricket can return to Pakistan next year. (AAP)

The Pakistan Cricket Board hopes international cricket can return to Pakistan next year. (AAP)

Private T20 matches involving international players are the first step in Pakistan trying to convince national cricket teams to resume tours.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf hopes international cricket can return to Pakistan next year and has already provided security plans to some cricket boards.

"We are in negotiations with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe cricket boards," Ashraf said on Sunday. "I was in Colombo recently and I talked to them about sending their team."

International cricket of a sort returned to Pakistan at the weekend when players from Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan represented an International World XI and played two exhibition Twenty20 matches at Karachi against a Pakistan All Star XI.

The PCB chief welcomed the initiative taken by provincial sports minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah to organise the matches in which former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya led the Internationals with players like South African bowlers Andre Nel and Nantie Hayward and Ricardo Powell from West Indies competing in front of capacity crowds of more than 30,000 at National Stadium.

"I think these matches are a good step and Pakistan Cricket Board supported and encouraged these matches," Ashraf said.

"Despite being private matches these matches generated lot of enthusiasm from the fans."

Pakistan's All Stars won both T20 matches, opening batsman Imran Nazir smashed 53 off 33 balls as the home side enjoyed a six-wicket victory on Sunday.

Nazir hit five boundaries and five sixes in the All Stars' convincing 4-145 in 16.4 overs after the Internationals compiled 9-142.

After losing the toss, the Internationals lost Jayasuriya off the third ball - a contentious lbw decision by umpire Saleem Badar after TV replays showed fast bowler Sohail Khan had pitched the ball outside the leg stump.

They were 9-85 in the 16th over before No.11 Hayward hammered three boundaries and four sixes in an unbeaten 42 off just 16 balls that gave the total some respectability.

Leftarm spinner Faraz Ahmed took 3-20 while Tabish Khan picked up two wickets for 19 runs.

The Pakistan All Stars XI won the first match by 84 runs.

Jayasuriya said he did not see any security problems during his stay.

"It's high time to assess the situation here in Pakistan and convince the other cricket boards," he said.

"It's a big responsibility on the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) to push the other countries' cricket boards because we came here and nothing happened."

Pakistan has not hosted any Test-playing nation since gunmen attacked an Sri Lanka team convoy at Lahore in March 2009.

Pakistan's "home" is now the United Arab Emirates with the PCB organising home series in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah during the past three and a half years.

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