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Indian Cricket Board delegation arrive tomorrow to finalize Pakistan Tour itinerary
Pakistan Times Sports Desk


MULTAN: The final itinerary for the forthcoming Indian cricket team's tour to Pakistan and the question whether Multan would get any match would be finalized after completion of visit of three-member delegation of Indian Cricket Board arriving Pakistan on Saturday.

This was stated by chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Sheheryar Khan while addressing a press conference here on Thursday after paying his first ever visit to Multan Cricket Stadium to look for possibilities to arrange a match of the series there.

He appreciated Indian team's performance against Australia but said, its always a different story when it comes to cricket contests between India and Pakistan. Pakistan team would fight the traditional rivals the way it always did and the series would be a tough challenge for both teams, he added.

"The Indian cricket board delegation would arrive Pakistan the day after tomorrow. Though Indians have expressed no major objections over the tour itinerary already submitted by the PCB. Rather they told us to do whatever suitable, however, the final itinerary would be made public after consulting the Indian delegation", said the PCB Chief.

The delegation would visit the Test centres in Pakistan to review arrangements for forthcoming Pakistan-India series in March this year. The Indian team would be offered the security even better than what was arranged for the last touring team, Sheheryar Khan said. South Africa, the last team that visited Pakistan were happy with the security arrangements and we are going to improve them further, he added.

Giving his observations about Multan Cricket Stadium, he said, "It is a fantastic playing facility and I am proud of it." "It is comparable to any world class stadiums in the different countries I have visited", he said. However, International Cricket Council (ICC) have some strict rules about a Test station including ground condition, accommodation and security. Ground of Multan Cricket Stadium is best, security situation is also up to the mark, however, the city does not have a four or five star luxury hotel, he said.

"I have visited the only hotel in the city and found it good. But not good enough for an International Cricket Team as though it has swimming pool but no facilities like squash and tennis courts", he added. "I wish that the Indian team should start its series from Multan and PCB would talk to them on the matter, however, the final decision would be taken after consulting the Indian board that whether Multan would get any match three-day, one-day or a Test."

The PCB Chairman said, he has heard that another hotel would be constructed in Multan and hoped that it would at least be a four star luxury one to meet ICC accommodation standards. He hoped there would be no match fixing in future given the present strict ICC rules and resolve of PCB to fight it out, if any, among Pakistan players.

When asked about a report by the ICC Anti Corruption Unit regarding alleged involvement of Pakistan players in match fixing during a tournament in Morroco, he said, it was a very old matter. "Firstly I would like to say that it was a matter of leakage of a confidential document which is regrettable. The leakage occurred in Britain and not in Pakistan."

He said, former PCB Chairman Lt Gen (rtd) Tauqir Zia had informed him about a telephonic conversation with the ACU on the matter. He said, PCB would look at the official letter and take appropriate action accordingly in the light of evidence, if any, placed on record by the ACU on the matter.

He, however, added that no Pakistan player was under observation these days. The PCB Chairman had also visited three other grounds and held meetings with the delegation of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and presidents and general secretaries of fourteen district cricket associations of Multan Region.

   
 
 
 
 

 

 

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