Mani wants other teams to visit Pakistan

• “It is an important series for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan and crowd turnout on Monday is fantastic,” says PCB Chairman.
• “If all players agreed to come here then we had no issue for playing Test matches in Pakistan,” says Harin Fernando.

KARACHI: Ehsan Mani chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that they were in talks with the officials of Australian, England, Ireland and New Zealand cricket board and inviting them to assess the conditions in Pakistan.

Speaking at a presser along with Sri Lankan Sports Minister Harin Fernando, President Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) Shami Silva and Mohan De Silva Honorary Secretary SLC at National Stadium Karachi (NSK), he said that PCB was in talks with the officials of Australian, England, Ireland and New Zealand cricket board and inviting them to assess the security arrangements in Pakistan.

He said that this was right moment when SLC gave support to Pakistan cricket and hoped that it would help the board to convince other countries. “Perception of a country sitting outside is different when you go to visit the place,” Mani said.

He said that terrorism could happen anywhere but security of players could not be compromised; adding that Sri Lanka has a special place in our heart as they suffered in Pakistan. “It is an important series for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan and crowd turnout on Monday is fantastic. This series have now opened the doors of international cricket in Pakistan. So I am confident,” Mani said.

Sri Lankan sports minister thanked PCB to send under-19 cricket team to Sri Lanka when things were not settled; adding that as Asian country, SLC believe in unity and always support Pakistan cricket.

Harin Fernando said that if all players agreed to come here then we had no issue for playing Test matches in Pakistan as they were playing Test championship.

Shami said that SLC had all its support with PCB; adding that he would talk to Ehsan Mani to reassess arrangements for Test series in Pakistan as everybody had family back home and we could not emphasize them. Mohan thanked Pakistan government to ensure high level security for Sri Lankan team.

Earlier, CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah during his visit to NSK assured full support to PCB in order to hold test match in Karachi.