Australia in talks with Pakistan over venue selection due to security, health reasons: report
ONLINE
ISLAMABAD
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it is not possible to hold Test matches in the same city during Australia’s tour of Pakistan.
According to the PCB spokesperson, it is not possible to hold 19-day international cricket in one city, therefore not all Test matches of Pakistan versus Australia series can be played in one city. No proposal is under consideration in this regard, the spokesperson said.
Test matches against Australia are scheduled in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. The Australian cricket team will visit Pakistan for the first time since 1998.
On the other hand, confirming the preparations for the tour of Pakistan, Cricket Australia (CA) said that it would be appropriate to have all the three Test matches in the same city.
According to Australian media, Cricket Australia is keen to play all the three Tests scheduled in the same city during its tour of Pakistan due to health and security issues and talks are underway with Pakistan Cricket Board officials.
According to Cricket Australia, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have not been included in the T20 series against Sri Lanka due to their tour of Pakistan.
Australia wants all Test matches at one venue
Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are in talks over the venues for Test matches during the Aussies tour to the country in March, The Sunday Morning Herald reported.
The long-format matches are scheduled to take place under the lights of the stadiums in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, however, “negotiations are continuing with the [PCB] about the possibility of playing all three Tests in one venue for health and security reasons”, the publication reported.
This will be the first time that an Australian side will be visiting Pakistan to play a cricket series after 24 years, with Islamabad looking eagerly to revive international cricket and host foreign teams.
The first Test match between the two sides will be played from March 3 in Karachi, while the second Test will be played from March 12-16 in Rawalpindi.
