PCB to seek govt`s clearance before hosting international teams

Lahore: The Cricket Board (PCB) will only make an official bid to host any international event, including the Asia Cup in Pakistan only after getting clearance from the interior ministry.

At the last meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) held in Singapore in December, the PCB had expressed its intent to host the Asia Cup in 2014. But a board official explained that while the PCB was keen to get the hosting rights for the Asia Cup, it would only submit an official bid after getting clearance from the government. A source said the prevailing security situation in the country was the reason behind PCB`s fresh stand. "In 2009 Zimbabwe had agreed to tour Pakistan to play a one-day series to raise funds for the flood victims but the interior ministry didn`t give clearance for the tour because at that time the month of Muharram was coming and they had concerns over the security for the touring side," the source said. He said it was for this reason that the PCB had decided to only move forward after getting clearance from the interior ministry. "What has been decided is that the PCB will first seek approval from the interior ministry and security clearance before it makes an official bid for the Asia Cup," he said. Pakistan had successfully hosted the Asia Cup in 2008 in Karachi and Lahore while in 2012 it is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh. PTI