Efforts on to finalise three-nation event in USA

KARACHI: Pakistan are trying to find a window in August-September this year to fit in a proposed triangular series in the United States in their busy schedule.

Najam Sethi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, told ‘The News’ that because of prior commitments, the Board is finding it tough to line up the series that will also feature West Indies and another Test-playing nation.

“We have a very busy schedule this year but it is important for us to fit in the proposed tri-series in the US,” he said.

By featuring in the proposed triangular planned by Cricket West Indies (CWI), PCB will be returning a big favour given by the West Indians.

Despite security concerns, the West Indies agreed to send their team to Pakistan to play a three-match Twenty20 International series which got underway at Karachi’s National Stadium on Sunday.

In return, Pakistan have agreed to play in the proposed three-nation tournament in the United States later this year. The tournament will include Pakistan, West Indies and either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.

“The problem is that almost international teams have busy international schedules,” Sethi said. “Then there are all the professional leagues which is why it is not easy to fit in a new tournament,” he added.

Sethi, however, revealed that all parties are working keenly to finalise the details of the tournament which should take place in August or early September with matches likely in Houston (Texas) and Lauderhill (Florida).

Pakistan have never played international cricket in the United States. The West Indians played two Twenty20 Internationals against India at Lauderhill. The West Indian board also hosted a few matches of the Caribbean Premier League there.

“Things are being worked out and we should know the details soon,” Sethi said.

The PCB chairman praised CWI for sending their team to Pakistan. “It’s a good gesture,” he said.

The West Indians, however, are not just on a goodwill tour. They received more than 500,000 dollars from the PCB to play in the three-match series in Karachi.

CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said that the series is just the beginning of a partnership with Pakistan

“We won’t make short-term money out of the series but we are working on a joint strategy with Pakistan to support Canada and US cricket and obviously to help bring cricket back to Pakistan,” Grave said.

“We have started to explore with PCB opportunities to partner together in economic terms.

“We are looking at ways to increase resources, and to tap into the huge expat communities for both of us is in Canada and the USA. We’re trying to see how we can support their development, take top-level international cricket there, and engage these expat communities,” he said.