Reports: PCB in talks with ACB to conduct all their ODIs on a single venue in Sri Lanka

Pakistan and Afghanistan are all set to meet for a three-match One-Day International series. Initially, the series was supposed to be held in the United Arab Emirates but later it was confirmed that Sri Lanka will act as a neutral venue for the series between the two neighboring countries. 

Once the island nation was revealed as the venue for the series, the two boards, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have now got into a discussion of what will be the venue for the matches. Pakistan has reportedly asked Afghanistan to fix one venue for all three matches. 

The two sides will be playing the three ODIs in the first week of September. The series is a part of the ICC ODI Super League, which forms a pathway to the 2023 World Cup, which is set to be played in India. In a report on Pajhwok, it was stated that a PCB official has revealed that, “We (PCB) have received a communication from the Afghan Cricket suggesting that the ODI series be played at two venues.”

PCB looking to avoid too much travel for the national team: Reports

The same report didn’t mention who that official was and didn’t share any details regarding it. However, it further stated that PCB has expressed that they would be happier if the entire series is played at one venue itself. “We have opposed the idea, saying that just one venue would be a far better option,” the report quoted the same PCB official saying. 

Pakistan’s national men’s team is currently in the West Indies where they will take part in a two-match Test series and have recently won a T20I series 1-0. They will return back later this month. The PCB official further stated that due to the tight scheduling the players will find it difficult if they have to travel from one city to another in the middle of that series. 

Pakistan will also play an ODI and T20 series at home against New Zealand starting from September 11. The PCB official further said, “We have made it clear to ACB that our national team members have only 10-day time between travel and the series before hosting the Kiwis on September 11.”

It should be noted that when Sri Lanka recently hosted India for a three-match ODI series and subsequent three T20I matches, the two teams played at only one venue in Colombo. According to the PCB official, the same pattern should be followed for the three-match series which will ensure that the team doesn’t have to travel a lot. The PCB official also said that the board is expecting to come to a conclusion within a few days from the ACB.