West Indies refuse to play in Pakistan due to security reasons

Karachi, April 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is disappointed at the refusal of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to play a couple of limited over games from their full series in Pakistan later this year.

West Indies, who recently won the World Twenty20 title in India, have turned down a request from the PCB to play in Pakistan a few matches of the full series that will be played in the UAE in September-October.

"The West Indies board have informed us they prefer to have the full series in UAE because of security reasons," a top official of the board told PTI.

"It is disappointing because we are trying our best to convince other boards that security conditions in Pakistan are improving with time and they need to support us even by playing a few games of a home series that is played in UAE," he said.

He said the West Indies board had conveyed that their players still had security concerns over playing in Pakistan. Pakistan will host the West Indies for two Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals in September and October this year.

Since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009 all top Test teams have avoided touring Pakistan because of security concerns.

The PCB had tried to convince the West Indies board to play a couple of limited over games of the coming series in Pakistan.

The PCB had conveyed their request verbally and also sought the help of former West Indian greats, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara. Since 2009, Pakistan has only hosted Afghanistan, Kenya and Zimbabwe at home.

Zimbabwe toured Pakistan last May to play limited over games in Lahore and the tour was a big success for the PCB.

PTI