Lahore - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) efforts of international cricket revival in the country hit a major roadblock as the government barred the board from inviting any international team in the current year.
A reliable source in the board said the PCB was making hectic efforts to bring international cricket back to the country and has not only invited top cricketing nations to Pakistan but also has agreed the teams of Ireland and Commonwealth but the recent instructions of the government have seen all those efforts go to vain.
It is pertinent to mention here that the government has issued such instructions keeping in mind the increasing ratio of terrorism across the world and the current situation of the country. The government has also advised all the sporting bodies not to organise any major local or international sporting event in major cities of the country that draws huge crowds. “According to new security guidelines, now it will be too tough for big cities to get national level tournaments, which will most probably be conducted in the security-cleared cities,” the source added.
Pakistan has been struggling to host international teams and series since 2009 attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team. Although the board managed to organise Pakistan-Zimbabwe series last year, yet they were striving to invite and play big cricketing nation. But now after the instructions of the government, there is a no chance of conducting a single international event in the country this year.
The sources said that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management was also planning to organise the playoff and finals at home grounds but after such instructions, the prospects of bringing the PSL on home soil look very grim. However, the government has yet to decide on the policy for this particular proposal and has asked the PCB to ‘wait’ before making any such decision to give security clearance to hold the last part of the PSL in the country will be made according to the law and order situation at that particular time. “The inaugural edition of the PSL was conducted in a befitting manner in Dubai and this time, the cricket fans and the PSL management wanted some of the league’s part in the country, but in such circumstances, to fulfill this wish is a tough task.”
The PCB is already bearing huge financial losses since 2009 due to its circumstantial inability to hold the home series in the country and has already requested the ICC financial assistance to overcome these losses.