SHARJAH // Pakistani cricket got a boost this week with Kenya agreeing to play five one-day internationals in the country next month against the Pakistan A team.
Officials hope it will be a step towards top-level international cricket returning to the country.
Since a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009, only Afghanistan – who played two ODIs and a Twenty20 international in 2013 – have visited the country.
Kenya recently lost their ODI status but they will be the first team of international repute to tour Pakistan.
“We have agreed to have five one-day games [Dec 13-20] at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore,” said Zakir Khan, PCB’s director for international cricket.
“Mrs Jackie Janmohammed [Cricket Kenya chairman] was the one who took the initiative and spoke to Shahryar Khan [PCB president] on the sidelines of Pakistan’s series against Australia in the UAE.
“Pakistan will also be sending an Under 19 team [to Kenya] next month and, through this reciprocal series, we hope to also establish international cricket in Pakistan.”
Kenya will arrive just two days before the tour and will stay within the premises of the ground. Zakir denied the restrictions were because of security fears.
“The measures will be of the highest standard as any international match, but the nature of the tour is such – our national team is busy here and we have to play a match every second day – that it was not possible [to play games around the country].”
kshyam@thenational.ae
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