ECB ‘delighted’ to support Pakistan, says Chairman Giles Clarke
THE England Cricket Board has announced that it had reached an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board to stage two Test matches and two Twenty20 internationals between Pakistan and Australia in England next July.
Twenty20 World Champions Pakistan have been forced to play ‘home’ matches outside of the country because of its precarious security situation.
ECB chairman Giles Clarke said England was an “ideal venue” for Pakistan because of the support it generates from British Pakistani’s.
“The Pakistan team performed outstandingly well in the World T20 tournament in England and were worthy world champions”, he said.
“The passion of the support for their team in England demonstrated why this country is an ideal venue for these matches against Australia.
“The warm relations between our two boards has developed further under the leadership of the current PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, with whom I enjoy an excellent working relationship, and ECB is delighted to support Pakistan in staging these matches.”
England will host Pakistan in four Test matches, five one-day internationals and two T20 internationals in August and September of next year.
Clarke also revealed he had accepted the role of chairman of the ICC Pakistan Task Team, set up by the ICC to provide strategies and solutions to assist the Pakistan Cricket Board in protecting its position in international cricket.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board is faced with a very challenging situation at present and ECB in its role as a member of the global cricket community is keen to offer PCB all possible assistance at such a difficult time,” Clarke added.
“I am delighted to take on this role and will be liaising closely with my colleagues at PCB in the coming weeks and months.”
