‘No reason for anyone not to play here’

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director International Cricket Zakir Khan has said that the country is now ready to host international cricket again after successfully staging the Pakistan Super League.

Addressing a press conference at the National Stadium on Sunday, Zakir said that other cricket boards have no reason not to allow their teams to play in Pakistan now. "We can now ask them questions if they refuse to play here since the security situation is much better and the country is also hosting matches of the PSL," he said.

Earlier, he unveiled the logo of the series between Pakistan and Australia along with the sponsors. Pakistan will play Australia in five-match ODI series in UAE starting March 22 at Sharjah. The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on March 24, followed by ODIs in Abu Dhabi on March 27, in Dubai on March 29 and 31.

Zakir said that the PCB wanted to organise the full series in Pakistan but could not convince Cricket Australia (CA). "We tried our best but could not convince them, " he said. However, Zakir said that the PCB is hopeful that they would be able to stage the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in September-October in Pakistan.