Pakistan offers to play 'home' series in India - CRICKETNDTV.com
Press Trust of India
14 December 2009 (Karachi)
Neck-deep in financial crisis, Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday offered to play their 'home' series in India, if the government there and the BCCI agree to the proposal.
Referring India's pull out from a Pakistan tour earlier this year in the wake of last year's Mumbai terror attack, PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said if the BCCI wanted to reschedule the series with permission from the Indian government, Pakistan was ready to play its 'home' series across the border.
"We are playing our 'home' Test series in New Zealand right now, we can plan a 'home' Test series in India as well, provided the Indians show interest," Butt said.
"If India is willing to reschedule that series or part of that series in India, it is something we would like to discuss with them," he said.
"We just need to find a window next year for such a series which would I am sure be a big draw," he said.
Butt was candid enough to admit that PCB was finding it hard to recover from the nearly USD 47 million loss of revenues it suffered after the cancellation of the Indian team's tour to Pakistan.
"We are definitely keen on playing a bilateral series with India as soon as possible and it is something we have been discussing at all levels with our government, with their board officials and with the ICC," Butt said.
Butt said the clearance by the Indian government for Pakistani players to take part in the Indian Premier League was a good sign and augurs well for resumption of bilateral cricket ties.
Butt said India was a very viable commercial market for Indo-Pak cricket matches.
Pakistan is earning little from playing its 'home' Test series in New Zealand and has paid Cricket New Zealand around $400,000 for hosting the series.
"We are earning little from playing at neutral venues but at least our team is getting international exposure and matches which is also very important for the survival of the sport in Pakistan," Butt said.
The Indian board recently, after a visit by Butt to India, said that a bilateral series with Pakistan even at neutral venues would only be possible around late next year because of the pressing commitments of its team.
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Our Pakistani friends are most welcome.
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Pakistan offers to play 'home' series in India
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