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| Majola offers to stage Pak matches in SA |
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Tuesday, October 06, 2009
From Abdul Mohi Shah
CENTURION: Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s chief executive, has offered Pakistan to organise their international fixtures in his country and hoped a series against arch-rivals India would be a real success here.
In an informal chat with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt on Monday, Majola said that SA Cricket would love to see Pakistan playing their international cricket here till the time the situation improves in their own country. “There is no need for looking for other venues. South Africa would suit Pakistan as thousands Pakistanis are living here and will welcome their team.”
Majola said South Africa can become second home for Pakistan cricket.
“Pakistan can look at South Africa as their second home. I have no doubt about the success of any Test and one-day series, if it is played here. Look at the response of the Pakistanis living here, they stormed to the stadiums only to see their cricketers in action and as such I am sure thousands would turn up to see Pakistan playing any other country here.”
According a rough estimate, over fifteen thousand Pakistani fans watched Pakistan playing India and at the same time another 13 thousand were present during their semifinal against New Zealand.
“I can expect that we would have capacity crowds, if Pakistan decides to host their series against India here,” he said. Butt expressed his thanks to Majola saying that his offer has opened up new options for Pakistan.
“I am really thankful to the Majola for extending such an offer. In fact this offer has opened up new options for the PCB,” Butt told ‘The News’. Butt promised Majola to take up the matter with the PCB Governing Board members once he returned home. “This could be one of the most lucrative offers we have had from any cricket-playing nation. I would discuss it with the governing board members and decide accordingly.”
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ISSN 1563-9479 
