The MCC plans to send a delegation to Pakistan to investigate the possibility of staging international cricket in the country, it was learnt Tuesday. No international side has toured the country since the Sri Lanka team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009, with Pakistan staging their ‘home’ matches elsewhere since.
Pakistan is currently hosting England in the nearby United Arab Emirates. Following this week’s meeting in Cape Town, the MCC’s world cricket committee noted “some optimism” with regard to security in the country, reports quoted former PCB chief executive Majid Khan, also an ex-Test player, about the security situation.
Following the meeting, the MCC released a statement which read: “The committee notes with some optimism the security improvements over recent months.
“In light of this presentation, the MCC world cricket committee recommends that, subject to Government advice and MCC committee approval, a small delegation from the club visits Pakistan to assess the situation, its suitability for tours and the possibility for the return of international cricket in the future.”
It is planned for the delegation to report back in August.
The committee also expressed its “disappointment” that no place had been found in the calendar until 2017 for the proposed ICC World Test Championship.
“A World Test Championship would, crucially, provide additional context for Test cricket,” it said.
“The committee is convinced that Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport, and that it needs to be encouraged and marketed in every way possible.” The committee also again urged the ICC to produce a uniform Decision Review System for use across the international game.
