Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed keenness to host major world events during the next eight-year FTP cycle in 2023-31 after being invited to show expression of interest by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, the board is planning to launch a joint bid for five to six ICC events along with its counterpart from the UAE.
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"We had expressed an interest to host five to six events and, frankly, it is likely we won't be getting more than one or two. But we also thought out of the box to bid jointly with another country," Mani said in a PCB podcast.
"I have already begun speaking with the Emirates Cricket Board for a team-up to increase the chances of hosting some of it together but, again, it needs cooperation.
"There are a few events with 16 games and then there are events with 30-40 games, so depending on the scale, the workload can be divided between us."
The ICC had invited expressions of interest from its member nations until 15 March for 20 global events that will be held in the 2023-2031 cycle but the meetings have been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mani added, "It is very important for Pakistan cricket and its development that some of the ICC events are played in Pakistan.
"We intend to make a very serious expression of our interest on this matter and we will be getting full government support as well."
Pakistan has previously co-hosted the 1987 and 1996 ODI World Cups and was due to also host matches of the 2011 edition of the showpiece event. But unfortunately, the country was removed as co-host by the ICC citing security issues, as the nation was still reeling from the 2009 Lahore terrorist attack, where a travelling Sri Lankan team bus was targetted.
Since then, however, the circumstances have definitely improved, with the PCB making great efforts to bring regular international cricket back to the country, hosting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Test fixtures after more than a decade, apart from various limited-overs series.
(With PTI inputs)
