PCB to cancel `A` team`s series against Windies

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to cancel its `A` team`s series against the West Indies after the Caribbean side refused to tour Pakistan due to of security concerns and offered to play in the United Arab Emirates.

According to reliable sources in the board, the West Indies A team was due to play in Pakistan as part of a reciprocal tour. But the West Indians recently informed the PCB that they would not send their team to play in Pakistan due to security concerns and instead offered to play the series at any neutral venue namely the UAE. "But the PCB after giving careful consideration decided that either the West Indies A team play in Pakistan or the series should not be held at all," one of the sources said. "The thinking in the board is that if other Test playing nations even refuse to send their second string and under-19 teams to Pakistan and want to play at neutral venues it would not only mean increased expenses but also send out a very negative message to the outside world," he explained. The source said the PCB`s Director General (cricket), Javed Miandad had informed the West Indies Cricket Board that Pakistan had hosted the Afghanistan team for an A series without any problems. No Test-playing nation has visited Pakistan since March, 2009 when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding some of the visiting players. The decision to not play the A series against West Indies in the UAE comes at a time when the PCB is trying to arrange a tri-nation series in Pakistan. "The board has also given clearance to the Sindh sports minister and a sports management company to invite a World XI to Karachi to play two T20 matches this month at the national stadium," the source said. PTI