Published: May 16, 2016, 10:49 PM (IST)
Edited: May 16, 2016, 10:49 PM (IST)
Lahore: The rising cost of hosting its matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to head southward to Sri Lanka for the series against the West Indies in October. According to espncricinfo, the series, comprising two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a Twenty20, was earlier scheduled to be held in the UAE but the growing costs have forced Pakistan to choose an alternate venue. “We are concerned about rising costs of hosting matches in the UAE, and if Sri Lanka is significantly cheaper then we shall consider it as an option,” a PCB spokesman said. Pakistan could opt to play home series against West Indies in Sri Lanka
The PCB has also sought a financial estimate from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in regard to the series. Confirming the news, SLC secretary Mohan de Silva said, “Yes, they have approached us. We will put the budget together and send it back to them. It will depend on whether it is a financially viable option for them to host a series here.” Pakistan has remained a red light zone for most international sides since the 2009 terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test.
Unable to garner suficient revenues, a beleagured Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling on options to shift their base from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Sri Lanka during their series against the West Indies, later in 2016. According to a senior PCB official, the board has been unable to make any handsome profits from its “home series” held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah since 2009 mainly due to the high expenses involved in organizing these series in the Emirates, negligible gate money receipts and finding right sponsors, reports PTI.
