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ICC World XI to tour Pakistan 'in due course' - Clarke
Cricinfo staff
August 17, 2010
ECB chairman Giles Clarke has called for Pakistan's return as a host of international matches and said an ICC World XI would tour the country "in due course" since it is still not possible for national teams to visit. Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since the March 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team.
"World cricket must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward, to do something for the spectator in Pakistan," Clarke wrote in the September issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine. The security challenges are enormous but we cannot allow the terrorists to win. They must lose by an innings - repeatedly.
"So world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan. I do not think it will be possible for individual national teams to tour yet. But with determination and courage an ICC World XI in due course will go and play against Pakistan in her great cities and there will be a marvellous atmosphere."
He said the cricketing world could not afford to forsake a country with such fervent fans and a strong history in the game. "Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters. It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out."
Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, revealed that the inability to host international cricket has resulted in the PCB's income falling from £27 million to £10 million, "a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive; terrorism does not care about its human consequences" he said.
The ECB plans to host more neutral matches featuring Pakistan to help the PCB with its finances. "The ECB intends to assist in staging more Pakistan games here [England] in 2011 and 2012," Clarke said. "The atmosphere, the passionate support and, of course, the tremendous cricket played by the Pakistan team made it a compelling experience. The PCB's economic needs make it imperative."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
Cricinfo staff
August 17, 2010
ECB chairman Giles Clarke has called for Pakistan's return as a host of international matches and said an ICC World XI would tour the country "in due course" since it is still not possible for national teams to visit. Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since the March 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team.
"World cricket must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward, to do something for the spectator in Pakistan," Clarke wrote in the September issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine. The security challenges are enormous but we cannot allow the terrorists to win. They must lose by an innings - repeatedly.
"So world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan. I do not think it will be possible for individual national teams to tour yet. But with determination and courage an ICC World XI in due course will go and play against Pakistan in her great cities and there will be a marvellous atmosphere."
He said the cricketing world could not afford to forsake a country with such fervent fans and a strong history in the game. "Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters. It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out."
Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, revealed that the inability to host international cricket has resulted in the PCB's income falling from £27 million to £10 million, "a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive; terrorism does not care about its human consequences" he said.
The ECB plans to host more neutral matches featuring Pakistan to help the PCB with its finances. "The ECB intends to assist in staging more Pakistan games here [England] in 2011 and 2012," Clarke said. "The atmosphere, the passionate support and, of course, the tremendous cricket played by the Pakistan team made it a compelling experience. The PCB's economic needs make it imperative."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
