PCB requests Australia and New Zealand to play T20Is in Pakistan

International cricket has slowly paved its way into Pakistan. The historic World XI tour saw cricketers from different countries travel to Pakistan for a three-match T20I series. This was followed by Sri Lanka and quite recently, the West Indies team touring Pakistan.

Now if reports are to be believed, the Pakistan Cricket Board has made similar requests to Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket. In a bid to bring international cricket back to Pakistan, they’ve asked both the countries to play the upcoming T20 matches in Pakistan.

It remains to be seen if both CA and NZC approve the idea proposed by the PCB. Other than the security measures, a lot of factors need to be on the check. Particularly, their players’ keenness to travel Pakistan. Many foreign cricketers in the PSL had agreed to travel to Pakistan for the final stages of the tournament.

However, it’s unlikely that New Zealand would be agreeing to play in Pakistan. According to Stuff.co.nz, an unnamed official of NZC indicated that the board was reluctant because of security concerns. It’s been 15 years since New Zealand toured Pakistan. This was after their previous tour got canceled as a result of a bomb blast in Karachi.

The home season for Pakistan begins from October. Followed by a T20 match, they’re scheduled to play a series of three Tests in UAE against the Baggy Greens. This will be followed by the Kiwis who would play five One Dayers and three T20 internationals in November.

Australia won’t have great memories of their last Test tour in UAE as they were whitewashed 2 nil by the Younis Khan led Pakistan. However, this time it is going to be a different team for both including Australia with Steve Smith and David Warner out of the reckoning.

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