Lahore, Oct 29 (PTI) Pakistan will host the next AsianCricket Council (ACC) Emerging Nations Cup in April next yearand PCB chairman Najam Sethi hoped that India would send itsteam for the event.
He said the decision to have the Emerging Cup in Pakistanwas taken during the meeting of the ACC held in Lahore today.
"Having the ACC meeting is by itself a very importantstep towards revival of international cricket in Pakistan.
PCB chairman Sethi said that six ACC teams including fivefull members will play in the tournament.
"We want to hold the matches in more than one city and wewill work towards that. We will look forward to hosting India,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier team nextyear," Sethi said.
Sethi said he was hopeful by next year India would alsoagree to send its emerging team to Pakistan as this would pavethe way for regular tours to the strife-torn country.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chairman Thilanga Sumithipalaalso said that his team would like to come back to Pakistansoon.
Sumithipala said Sri Lanka would like to come back toPakistan with its 'A' team, national team and under-19 sies.
"Pakistan is an important nation in the cricket world andif it is weak than Asian cricket is weak and if Asian cricketis weak than world cricket will be weak," he said.
Sumithipala called on Cricket Boards of Asia to supporteach other and said the Sri Lankan government had agreed tosend the team to play in Lahore with the same spirit.
"Pakistan has always been a good friend of Sri Lankancricket and they never pulled out of any series even when thesituation was bad in our country. They now need our support,"he said.
The SLC chairman further said that he would like to seeinternational events being held in Pakistan as his government,board and security people were satisfied with the securityarrangements made by the PCB for them.
Sri Lanka is the first top international side to play inPakistan since March, 2009 although Pakistan managed to getlow-ranked Zimbabwe to play a limited-overs series in Lahorein May, 2015.
Militants had attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore inMarch, 2009 which led to international teams refusing to tourPakistan and the PCB was forced to hold its home series awayfrom home in the UAE. PTI Cor SSCSSC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
