Pakistan aiming to cut hosting matches in UAE due to cost implications, says Wasim Khan

09/25/2019

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Wasim Khan on Tuesday revealed that the country is looking to completely move away from hosting matches in UAE due to its cost implications. He further feels that Pakistan should now be able to host all matches in the future due to improved security in the country.

Ever since the devastating terror attacks on the Sri Lankan Team bus in 2009, Pakistan, after being banned from hosting international cricket due to security concerns, have adopted United Arab Emirates (UAE) as their adopted home and have hosted all their matches in that country, across all formats. The two countries shared an extremely healthy relationship and even the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was also held in UAE.

However, PCB CEO Wasim Khan feels that now is the time to bid goodbye to hosting matches in the UAE, due to two reasons. Firstly, due to the cost implications of the same and secondly, the improved security in Pakistan, which has seen Sri Lanka voluntarily accept to tour them later this month.

"It costs us a lot of money hosting there (UAE)", Khan was quoted as saying by Times of India.

"Frankly speaking the security situation has improved in Pakistan and security experts have also assessed that we are in a position to manage security risks while hosting teams in the country," he added.

With Sri Lanka all set to tour Pakistan for 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs starting later this week, Khan has stated that at no point did Pakistan pay Sri Lanka or SLC for the visit and that it was all organic. He further stressed on the fact that Pakistan, and not UAE, is their home from this very moment.

"Security is fine in Pakistan, this is now our home venue. Bilateral series against Sri Lanka is important, and let me tell you that we are not paying them any extra money. They’re coming here for 13 days. Things are going in right direction for us,” Khan said.

Due to the aggravating political tension between the two countries, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series with each other for no less than six years. However, Khan is open to the possibility of playing India in neutral venues and feels that it is important that the two countries keep playing Cricket and not let external factors come in the way of the sport.

“We are willing to play with India anywhere as it is important that India and Pakistan play cricket. Cricket is a great way of bringing people together and cricket should remain cricket.

"We will play with India. I will be happy to explore possibilities of playing them,” he signed off.