Bringing game back to Pakistan a 'challenge'
Pakistan faces a "huge challenge" to bring international cricket back
to the country after play was suspended following a terrorist attack on
the Sri Lankan team two years ago, new cricket chief Zaka Ashraf said
Monday. Since the attacks in Lahore, which left eight people dead and
seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured, no
international cricket has taken place in Pakistan with teams refusing to
tour because of security fears. Pakistan has been forced to play their
home series at neutral venues in United Arab Emirates (UAE), England and
New Zealand.
Invitation
Sri Lanka refused an invitation to play in Pakistan in the wake of
attacks on a military base in Karachi in May this year, forcing their
hosts to play the series in UAE, with the third and final Test starting
in Sharjah on Thursday. Ashraf took charge as Pakistan Cricket Board
chairman last week.
"We have a huge challenge in front of us and have to work very hard
to bring international cricket back to Pakistan," he said while hosting
a farewell for former chairman Ijaz Butt whose three-year tenure ended
last month.
"We have to remove the negativity created because of the spot fixing
trial and move forward," he added, referring to the court case against
former Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.AFP
|