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Published 04 Feb, 2010 12:00am

Cricket in America: PCB`s lukewarm response upsets USACA official

LAHORE, Feb 3 Nabeel Ahmed, Senior Vice-President of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), on Wednesday expressed his disappointment over Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) lack of interest in playing in the US while adding that several other countries are keen to participate there.

“We don't know why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shows reluctance as it is not even ready to give us a reply, although we are also an affiliated member of the International Cricket Council (ICC),” Nabeel, who has a Pakistani origin, told Dawn here. “The USACA has offered the PCB to play some warm-up games against any country in the US before and after the 2010 World Twenty20. But there has not been any reply yet [from the PCB] after the passage of several months,” he said.

Nabeel added the USACA had also proposed the PCB to use the US as a neutral venue, but it had stuck to hold home series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“As a Pakistani, I'm struggling to help Pakistan cricket at this time of juncture. And after receiving no response [from the PCB] it all causes disappointment,” Nabeel added.

He further said that USACA's Chief Operating Officer also held a meeting with his PCB counterpart Wasim Bari in Dubai during an ICC meeting there in December, urging for more friendly bilateral relations between the two, but without any positive outcome so far.

Nabeel disclosed that the USACA had also tendered the PCB and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to hold the five-match ODI series, held in the UAE, in the US.

“While New Zealand agreed [to the proposal] and formally sent a reply, the PCB even failed to show any response,” he said.

After receiving a cold shoulder in all his previous attempts, Nabeel added he was now hesitant to contact the PCB.

He assured the USACA would go all out to help the PCB in case of any visa problems.

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