Pakistan could play Lanka in Zimbabwe

Reliable sources say Pakistan are considering Zimbabwe as one of several options to host the home series against Sri Lanka later this year.

Pakistan has been facing the ignonimy of international boycott since March 2009, when militants launched an attacked on the Sri Lankan team, killing eight people and wounding seven visiting players.

Ever since, Pakistan have played home series in England, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Once bitten, twice shy! Sri Lanka have categorically informed that they will not visit Pakistan for the series of three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in October-November. However, they say that Pakistan are welcome to play in their own stadiums.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar, Zimbabwe might be chosen as the neutral venue.

“Yes, we are considering the option of playing Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe, where we can make a profit because of low costs there,” Sarwar told AFP.

Last month, PCB said that it was still looking into the possibility of conducting the series in Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Sri Lanka have also offered to host Pakistan’s series against England next year.

England, who last toured Pakistan in 2005, are not keen on travelling to Pakistan considering poor security in the troubled country, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants are blamed for near daily bomb attacks.

Foreign teams started to refuse to tour Pakistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which triggered the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan, the war on Al-Qaeda and a sharp deterioration in security.

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Report: Amir's ban could be extended

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir's five-year spot-fixing ban could be extended if the ICC finds him guilty of breaking the terms of his suspension by turning up for a Surrey club.

The 19-year-old has insisted that he was under the impression that the match was not competitive cricket but it remains to be seen whether the argument would hold ground in the ongoing ICC investigation.

"Mohammad Amir could have his five-year worldwide ban for spot fixing extended after breaking his suspension by playing club cricket in Surrey last weekend," reported 'The Daily Mail'.

Aamir turned out for Addington 1743 against St Lukes in a Surrey League division one fixture on June 4.

The ICC is investigating if that was in violation of the terms of Aamir's ban.

"I asked the club representatives if the match fell under the jurisdiction of the ECB and they informed me that the match did not. I spoke to several club representatives about the issue and they all told me that it was a friendly and therefore would not contravene my ban from the ICC," Aamir has stated.

"I was informed that I was fine to play. I would not be stupid enough to knowingly play in a match that I knew would contravene my ban," he said.

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