PCB wants ICC task force to visit Pakistan to fast track revival of regular international cricket
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants the ICC task force on Pakistan cricket to visit the country in a bid to fast track the revival of regular international cricket here.
The task force was revived last month at the ICC's executive board meeting in Barbados after PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan complained that the task force had failed to deliver on its own recommendations.
"Shaharyar pointed out that the task force had itself said that former England captain, Mike Brearly and members should visit Pakistan to make a first hand assessment of the situation in Pakistan," a well-informed source in the PCB told PTI on Sunday.
"Khan also noted that the task force had promised to assist in the revival of international cricket in Pakistan by trying to send a commonwealth or international eleven side to the country for some matches but no progress was made on this front as well," the source said.
He said, on other hand, the PCB chief reminded the ICC board members that the PCB had fulfilled many of the recommendations made by the task force like having a more democratic constitution and improving domestic cricket set-up.
"It was when Shaharyar brought up the issue of the role of the task force that a debate was held on it and it was decided to revive the body. He will now hold some meetings with the head of the task force Giles Clarke in London as he is there in July," the source said.
Shaharyar, in the recent past, has said that the PCB was not happy with the performance of the task force since it had prepared a report on Pakistan cricket without its members visiting the country.
The task force was originally formed after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009 and killed six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounded some of the visiting players.
Since than no test team visited Pakistan because of security concerns until the PCB managed to convince the Zimbabwe cricket board to send its team in May to Lahore for a short one-day series which was a phenomenal success as all matches drew full houses and captured the interest of the people.
