The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to chose the neutral venues of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to host their “home series” against Sri Lanka later this year after the Lankan cricket authorities submitted their estimated expenses for hosting the full series.
“The bid made by the Sri Lankan board is on the higher side. Normally five-star hotels charge around USD 100 per room for visiting teams but the estimated costs we have received recommended a tariff of USD 175 to 180 per night,” a PCB source informed PTI.
Pakistan has been considering Sri Lanka, the UAE and Zimbabwe as possible options to host the coming series in October-November.
The official said that the Zimbabwe Cricket Union had also re-entered the race to host the series after initially being slow to respond.
“Zimbabwe is now under consideration as well and they have sought a week’s time to submit their estimated expenses for hosting the series,” the official added.
He said the organizers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi had already submitted their bids.
“We are used to dealing with the people in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as we have hosted series there before so we understand each other well,” he said.
But he said the board has yet to take a final decision on the neutral venues.
“I wouldn’t say Sri Lanka is ruled out to host the series but definitely we have asked them reconsider and revised their estimated expenses which are on the high side,” he said.
Pakistan has been forced to play to play its “home series” at neutral venues since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009.
Six Pakistani policemen and the bus driver were killed in the deadly attack while five Sri Lankan players were also wounded when their team bus came under attack at Liberty roundabout close to the Gaddafi stadium. Since then, foreign teams have refused to tour Pakistan because of security and safety concerns.
A board official said that local sponsorship would play a big part in allowing the PCB to decide on the neutral venues soon.
