The Pakistan Cricket Board will support Sri Lanka in its bid to host the Asia Cup from August 27 despite civil and political unrest in the island nation.
Sri Lanka have managed to successfully host Australian cricket team without any security breach despite civil unrest after former president Gotabaya Rajapakse fled the country in the midst of acute financial crisis.
Ramiz Raja in talks with Lankan officials
A PCB source said that chairman Ramiz Raja had spoken to top SLC officials and assured them that Pakistan will push for the Asia Cup to remain in Sri Lanka as scheduled from August 27 to September 11.
"The PCB chairman has assured his counterpart that Pakistan wants Sri Lanka to host the regional event as it would mean revenue earnings for the host country and will also boost their tourism," the source said.
The source also said that the PCB had also assured the Sri Lankan cricket authorities that the Pakistan team will play its Test matches in Galle and Colombo despite the ongoing unrest in the country.
He informed that although no official Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting is scheduled in the coming days, all the members being present during the upcoming ICC Board meeting in Birmingham, from August 22, will give them a chance to discuss a range of issues including hosting rights for the next Asia Cup in Pakistan.
"Since all the ACC members will be present, there will be discussions on the sidelines and Pakistan is clear that Sri Lanka must host the Asia Cup unless their board decides otherwise," the source added "Pakistan's point of view is clear that it has a long-standing relationship with Sri Lankan cricket and both have always supported each other in times of need."
Bigger IPL window to be opposed
It is a well documented fact that Raja, a former Pakistan captain is against BCCI's move to have a dedicated two and half month IPL window in the next FTP calender starting 2023.
With Pakistani players not allowed in the IPL since Mumbai terror attacks, Raja feels that there is no reason that he can support BCCI's move.
"Pakistan's stance is clear. Since its players are not allowed to play in the IPL nor does BCCI have bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan, what is it going to gain from supporting an extended IPL window," the source questioned.
A country's cricket board gets 10 percent of its player's earnings if he gets a chance to play in the IPL. "If BCCI pushes for an extended IPL window, Ramiz will insist that one country should not be isolated and made to suffer while other boards get benefits from it."
The PCB has apparently shelved the idea of importing drop-in pitches and has now hired an Australian curator to help in the process of improving its pitches at major international venues.
Damien Hough, head curator of Adelaide Oval who is due to reach Lahore on Friday will also be briefing local curators on how to prepare day and night Test matches in Pakistan.
Hough will be in Pakistan for two weeks and he will be visiting Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi during his whirlwind tour. He will inspect the pitches there and also give lectures and briefings to groundstaff and local curators.
Hough is believed to be one of the world's best curators with a 26-year experience.
