The Pakistan Cricket Board is in a bind. There are negotiations to ensure Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan to compensate for India’s absence. There are talks now of persuading Australia to tour after cancelling theirs last year.
Australia cancelled their proposed tour to Pakistan last year in the wake of the assassination of Pakistan leader, Benazir Bhutto, and growing instability in the country. Even then it would have been Australia touring Pakistan after a span of a decade.
Now Pakistan is hoping to rope in Australia to keep its commitment in March or April later this year as this will give Pakistan the real validation it needs from the western world that Pakistan is still a viable venue.
While Cricket Australia had earlier committed that Australia would tour Pakistan, perhaps in two separate stints instead of one lengthy one, they are yet to confirm those reports now with Pakistan making fresh attempts to reignite cricket in the country.
While the PCB Ijaz Butt will be amongst those officials who will be meeting up with the CA board members over the tour, there is also speculation that in the event that Australia expresses doubts about security, Pakistan may even entertain the prospect of holding the tour at a neutral venue like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Pakistan have certainly stepped up their momentum towards getting Pakistan back on track, India’s declining the tour notwithstanding.
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