Pakistan to host ACC Emerging Nations Cup next year

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received an overwhelming response in their effort to revive international cricket in the country. After a successful PSL final, a World XI series and now a bilateral game with neighbors Sri Lanka, the nation is all set to host the next edition of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Emerging Nations Cup in April 2018. The decision to hold the Emerging Cup in Pakistan was taken during the meeting of the ACC held in Lahore today.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi is extremely upbeat with the decision and believes India would send its team for the event as this would pave the way for regular tours to the strife-torn country. Sethi has also confirmed that six ACC teams including five full members will play in the tournament. International cricket in Pakistan suffered a major setback when anti-socials attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka cricketers to the Gaddafi Stadium, in March 2009. Subsequently, several international teams rejected tour the country.

Speaking to the media, Sethi said, “ Having the ACC meeting is by itself a very important step towards the revival of international cricket in Pakistan. We want to hold the matches in more than one city and we will work towards that. We will look forward to hosting India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier team next year.”

SLC chairman Thilanga Sumithipala shows support

Sri Lanka was the major first international team to play in Pakistan since the 2009 incident although Pakistan managed to get minnows Zimbabwe to play a limited-overs series in Lahore in May 2015. However, they were also struck with a similar fate and were left scarred by a bomb blast just meters away from the Gaddafi Stadium.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chairman Thilanga Sumithipala called on Cricket Boards of Asia to support each other and said the Lankan government had agreed to send the team to play in Lahore with the same spirit. He also expressed that the Islanders would like to come back and play in Pakistan soon.