UAE to host Pak-Aus ODI series next month

ISLAMABAD, Feb 10, (AP): Pakistan will host the five-match ODI series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates next month after Cricket Australia sought more time to assess the security situation in the country.

The PCB was hoping that it could convince Australia to play a few matches of the ODI series in Pakistan, but now they will all be played in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai from March 22-31.

Sharjah will host the first two ODIs on March 22 and 24 while the fourth and fifth ODIs will be played at Dubai on March 29 and 31, respectively. Abu Dhabi will host the third ODI on March 27.

Last year, the PCB hosted an incidentfree Twenty20 series against the West Indies and some Pakistan Super League matches.

“The PCB was optimistic that it will be able to convince Cricket Australia to send its side (to Pakistan) for some matches,”

PCB’s director international cricket, Zakir Khan, said in a statement on Sunday.

“But we are disappointed for the enthusiastic and passionate cricket fans in Pakistan who will now have to wait for some more time before they can see the Australian cricket team live in action for the first time since 1998.” Australia last

toured Pakistan in 1998 under the captaincy of Mark Taylor. A terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009 forced the PCB to choose the UAE as its home venue after foreign teams refused to tour Pakistan due to security fears.

Khan said CA has confirmed that it’ll send its security expert to oversee plans

during next month’s eight PSL matches in Karachi and Lahore “and will also speak with the ICC-recommended PCB security consultant.”

Over the last two years the PCB has stepped up its efforts to win back the confidence of foreign teams that it’s safe to play in Pakistan.