PCB in a fix for Australia and New Zealand tours set to be hosted in UAE

Pakistan are set to take on trans-Tasman rivals – Australia and New Zealand – this winter but their cricket board is in a fix while attempting to finalize the schedule for the two series to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The schedule of other tournaments and schedules at the UAE venues around the same time has made Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) task really difficult.

The Men in Green will face Australia for two Tests, five ODIs and one T20I in the series. However, while the Afghanistan Premier League is also scheduled to be played in Sharjah around the same time (October – December), England Lions are also slated to visit the UAE for warm-up games. It means the PCB will have only Dubai and Abu Dhabi as venues to host Australia and New Zealand. The Kiwis are set to play three Tests and as many ODIs and T20Is against the hosts.

PCB worried about the interest

A report by Pakistan’s The Express Tribune also cited sources as saying that with a lot of cricket happening in the UAE, the PCB was also worried over how much interest the series with Australia and New Zealand will draw. The board officials were not pleased with the high dose of cricket in the UAE and suspect that Pakistan’s Test matches could suffer the most. The unavailability of Sharjah, which attracts a big crowd, as it will be busy hosting other matches has also disappointed the board.

Officials from Australia and New Zealand are currently on tour of the UAE to take stock of arrangements for the upcoming series and the PCB is likely to announce the final schedule for the twin tours by the end of the current week.

“We’ve an agreement with UAE cricket authorities to not host any cricket 35 days prior to the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, they can host any league, be it their own or of any other country during our home season. With so much cricket to be played and just three venues available, I am sure it was hard for them as well to find window for so many leagues,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi said.

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