Mani slams PCB over lack of effort to restore international matches in Pak

LONDON - Former International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani has accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of dragging its feet in the bid to restore international matches to the country.

Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, which killed eight people, as well as injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.

“The PCB has yet to submit a report on the Lahore attacks to the ICC, and unless and until they do so teams will continue to refuse to tour Pakistan,” The Dawn quoted Mani, as saying.

“By not submitting the report, the PCB has not been able to form a strategy with the ICC and until the member boards analyze that report they will continue to hesitate when it comes to touring Pakistan,” he added.

Mani further highlighted that the way to reintroduce international cricket to Pakistan is to start with tours involving some of the sport’s less high-profile sides.

“I think it will take at least two years to revive cricket in Pakistan, but firstly there should be low key tours with teams like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan so that confidence is restored,” he added.

The security situation had forced Pakistan to hold its ‘home’ series against Australia in England.

In the last two years, Pakistan ‘home’ games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan’s matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. (ANI)