DAWN.COM

LAHORE, May 12: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided not to play as host for the One-day Internationals and T20 series between Pakistan and Australia scheduled to be held in August, since the SLC has decided to organise its own premier league in the same month, a PCB spokesman said on Saturday.

“Though the Memorandum of Understanding in this regard was yet to be signed between the PCB and SLC as both the boards have only principally agreed to organise the series in Sri Lanka, now it is not possible since Sri Lanka needs grounds to organise its own premier league” the spokesman said.

He further said the PCB has not taken any decision in selecting any other country to host the series as neutral venue.

Before selecting Sri Lanka as neutral venue, South Africa was also being considered, but Sri Lanka was preferred as inviting Aussies to Sri Lanka was more beneficial for the PCB.

Sri Lanka’s spinners-friendly pitches were more helpful for Pakistani bowlers and batsmen as compared to Australians, while the cost of the series in Sri Lanka was also relatively lower than that of South Africa.

Now the PCB may once again look to South Africa for the series since due to hot weather in August, the UAE as neutral venue will not be suitable for the series against Australia.

Meanwhile, the PCB spokesman also hailed Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to include Pakistan’s champions Sialkot Stallions in the upcoming Champions League.

However, he added that it was premature to say that the decision would also pave the way to resume cricketing ties between the two countries, which have been suspended for the last five years on political grounds.