Pakistan is examining the possibility of hosting its home cricket series against England in Sri Lanka early next year because of security concerns. A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told Reuters on Thursday that they was looking at Sri Lanka, or as a back-up, the United Arab Emirates as potential venues.
"While finalising the venues it will boil down to the cost factor," said chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed. "We have got an offer from Sri Lanka to host the series and are looking at it."England also wants to play the scheduled series at a neutral venue because of the worrying security situation in Pakistan. No foreign team has visited Pakistan since 2009 when in March of that year militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver.
Five visiting players in the team bus were also wounded. Ahmed said that the PCB had to see where it could save on costs. "We are already struggling because of not being able to host any international matches at home," he said. "But we need to carry on our obligations even at neutral venues. But cost is a big deciding factor for us."