Cricket South Africa has turned down Pakistan’s request to change the dates of its tour of the republic so as not to clash with the first Pakistan Premier League next March. The Pakistan Cricket Board asked the CSA to bring forward the tour of South Africa, which begins on Jan. 25 and ends on March 24, spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said on Tuesday. “We requested them to change the itinerary so that we could expand the window of our premier league,”
Sarwar said. “CSA said it is not possible now since the tickets of the series are sold out. We understand their position and we are comfortable with that.”
Pakistan is scheduled to play three tests, two Twenty20s and five one-day internationals during its two-month tour of South Africa. Pakistan is planning to organize a Twenty20 league in March similar to the leagues in England, Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The PCB is also hoping to lure foreign players to build confidence in playing in Pakistan, where no major teams have toured since the deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team convoy in 2009 in Lahore. The PCB’s premier league plans have yet to be revealed. It faces a squeeze in time not only because of the South Africa tour but also because the Indian Premier League starts in early April.
A provincial minister successfully hosted two exhibition Twenty20s between an International World XI of retired players from West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa and the Pakistan All Stars in Karachi last weekend. Crowds of more than 32,000 attended the games at National Stadium.
Pakistan Premier League in May: Ashraf
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has announced that the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) will be take place in May, 2013. A meeting of the PCB was held here to discuss the PPL and according to sources the event will last for 15 days. Zaka Ashraf informed the media that the league would be successful if international players take part in it, adding that several cricketers had been contacted already. Ashraf also hoped that international cricket would return to Pakistan soon. In all 30 matches between five teams will be played during the tournament and each team will be allowed to acquire three international players.