The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems desperate to bring top teams back in Pakistan, as the board has reportedly approached South Africa and Ireland for the limited-overs tour next year after successfully hosting Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series in the country.

The top international teams have boycotted from touring Pakistan since the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus – which left six Pakistani policemen dead and some visiting players injured.

However, the PCB has managed to convince West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka for a short tour after hosting some of the Pakistan Super League matches and the World XI side in the country since the deadly attack in 2009.

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But the top teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are still not finding Pakistan a safe place to play cricket, though, the PCB hopes that Sri Lanka’s 13 days visit in September could make way for the top teams to travel Pakistan for a limited-overs series in next 6 months.

According to the Press Trust of India, a PCB source revealed: “The Board is confident that it will be hosting at least four foreign teams in a span of five to six months next year after it invited South Africa and Ireland to tour Pakistan for limited over series.”

He signed off by saying, “South Africa is a top team while Ireland also carries substantial influence in the ICC so the PCB believes if these two teams come to Pakistan early next year it will pave the way open for even Australia, England and New Zealand to send their teams soon.”

The reports also suggested that the PCB is also trying hard to convince Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to visit Pakistan to play the ICC World Test Championship matches in December and January.

(With PTI Inputs)