PCB disappointed by Australias decision to postpone Pak tour

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Nasim Ashraf has expressed his dismay over Australias decision to postpone their national squads scheduled tour to Pakistan, despite the host boards foolproof security assurances.

Islamabad, Mar 12 : Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Nasim Ashraf has expressed his dismay over Australia's decision to postpone their national squad's scheduled tour to Pakistan, despite the host board's foolproof security assurances.

Addressing a press conference here, he said CA communicated its decision early on Tuesday to the PCB.

On the alternate arrangement, Nasim said, CA chief had forwarded two options - pick a neutral venue or scrap the tour.

The PCB refused both arguing that a neutral venue could be very damaging for Pakistan cricket in the long run, rejecting the impression that the board would look for a neutral venue.

On scrapping of the tour, Nasim said: "We also rejected the second option and opted for the tour's postponement," he asserted, adding that new dates for the series will be discussed at the ICC Executive Board meeting on March 16-17 where chiefs of both the boards will be discussing the issue.

About security concerns to any cricket playing nation, Nasim stated that he had said in the past that Zimbabwe, South Africa and West Indies also visited Pakistan, insisting the visiting teams had faced no safety issues.

However, he stated, Pakistan would host the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup as per schedule later this year.

Regarding the likely insurance issues, the PCB will face because of postponement of the Australian series; he said the matter would be taken up at the board of governors meeting on March 22.

ANI