By IANS,
Karachi : Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Thursday called Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Arjuna Ranatunga to line up a home series against Sri Lanka after India cancelled their tour to the country.
Immediately after getting an official confirmation of tour cancellation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Butt called up Ranatunga to discuss the possibility of hosting Sri Lanka for Tests and one-dayers during Jan-Feb.
Butt told IANS that Ranatunga has responded positively to the invitation.
“The Sri Lankans are interested in playing Tests and one-dayers against Pakistan,” said Butt.
“I’ve personally spoken to Arjuna Ranatunga and he responded positively. We hope that something will be worked out within the next couple of days.”
India was to tour Pakistan in Jan-Feb to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match. But the Indian government did not clear the tour in the wake of last month’s terror attacks in Mumbai, blaming the extremist elements in Pakistan for the attacks.
Butt said Sri Lanka are being invited as Pakistani cricketers desperately need to play Tests against leading teams.
Butt also said Sri Lanka has expressed no security concerns about touring Pakistan.
Sri Lanka will be free of any international commitments after hosting Bangladesh in a home series that concludes Jan 4.