Dubai: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may not move out their home series from the UAE, which has been their second home since 2009 in terms of staging international matches.
According to reports from Pakistan, PCB officials had been exploring possibilities of staging their home series against West Indies, to be played from late September to the end of October, either in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh. The decision to scout for alternative venues was apparently taken considering the higher expenses involved in staging a series in the UAE, with stadiums seeking higher rents for the use of their facilities.
The PCB is understood to have decided to stage the West Indies series in UAE itself given that the rainy season would set in during October in Sri Lanka. The PCB also decided against holding the series in Bangladesh due to political reasons.
Speaking to Gulf News, David East, the chief executive of the Emirates Cricket Board explained UAE’s stance in the matter. “We have always welcomed Pakistan to stage their international series here. We will be more than happy to stage the Pakistan-West Indies series in September-October here.”
When asked about the rent for the use of stadiums, East said: “As regards the pricing, it is for the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide. We have always worked closely with the PCB to assist them. If they wish to come here and play, we will help them in all aspects.”
PCB’s executive committee head Najam Sethi had reportedly said that hosting the West Indies series in Sri Lanka would be cheaper than hosting in UAE. It is understood that not only the rain factor but also the gate money factor too has prompted the PCB to stick with the UAE. The turnout for a series in Sri Lanka would never be on par with the UAE by any reckoning. In fact, almost all the Pakistan series in the UAE have drawn full houses, particularly on weekends.
UAE also hosted the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League in February this year and the PCB only had to share the gate money and charges for hospitality boxes with the stadium rather than pay any rent. Incidentally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had revealed that they made a profit of $2.6 million from the first edition of the PSL.
The PCB is also keen to stage the second edition of the PSL in the UAE in February next year with the tournament set to add a team to make it a six-team event.
The Pakistan West Indies series will be made up of two or three Test matches besides five One-day internationals and Twenty20 matches. One of the Test matches is likely to be a day-night match played with pink balls.
