PCB confident of India's tour of Pakistan

Lahore, Nov 12 (UNI) The PCB is confident that India's tour of Pakistan will go ahead as scheduled even though the reports about a possible cancellation from the BCCI are growing in number.

A PCB official was quoted as saying by 'The News' that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remained confident that the Indians will come and play the series according to schedule.

''India have confirmed the itinerary for the series and we are confident that they will come,'' said a PCB officials.

''The visitors will get the best possible security cover during the visit,'' he added.

But such assurances did not work for Pakistan in recent times as earlier this year Australia cancelled its cricket team's tour of Pakistan, citing security apprehensions.

Later, the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the ICC Champions Trophy which was supposed to be hosted by Pakistan in September this year after five of the competing nations refused to visit the country on security grounds.

Just a day after India cancelled its junior hockey team's visit of Pakistan over security concerns, it was reported that India is also considering to call off its cricket team's tour of Pakistan early next year because of what its Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) believes is a 'dangerous' security situation in the country.

However, the PCB official pointed out that India were not among the wavering nations and instead they vocally supported the idea of having the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, chairman of the finance committee of BCCI Rajiv Shukla said the tour remains on till the time Board does not get any instructions from the Home Ministry.

''We will wait for clearance from MEA. From our side the tour is still on,'' Shukla added.

India is scheduled to play Tests in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, while the ODIs are to be held in Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi. The lone Twenty20 will be played in Karachi.

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