Pakistan hopeful West Indies women's tour heralds cricket resumption
Last updated on: 22 October,2021 09:17 am
West Indies women's team will visit Pakistan for three ODIs in Karachi on November 8, 11 and 14.
KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan cricket authorities said on Thursday an upcoming tour by the West Indies women s and men s teams would go ahead and would help revive international matches in the country.
Last month, New Zealand s team abandoned their first tour to Pakistan in 18 years, minutes from the start of the first one-day international in Rawalpindi, citing security threats.
That decision put upcoming tours in jeopardy with England withdrawing from their men s and women s series that were scheduled for this month.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said they were concerned about the mental and physical health of the players caused by Covid-19.
The cancellations have left Pakistan fearing another era of international cricket isolation.
For six years following a 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, the country played their home series at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates.
"West Indies women s tour will be followed by their men s side so the Pakistan cricket fans can brace for some exciting and entertaining cricket," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said in a statement.
The West Indies women s team will visit Pakistan for three one-day internationals in Karachi on November 8, 11 and 14, the PCB said, adding the men s team would visit after.
Pakistan is hoping a scheduled Test and one-day international series against Australia in February-March next year -- its first tour of the country since 1998 -- will not be cancelled.