Pak, SA set to play Test series in UAE

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started preparations of its 'home' series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the Proteas refused to tour the trouble-torn country. More... South Africa refuses to tour Pakistan April 02, 2010 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started preparations of its 'home' series against South Africa [ Images ] in the United Arab Emirates [ Images ] (UAE) after the Proteas refused to tour the trouble-torn country. South Africa were scheduled to tour Pakistan in October-November for a three Tests and five One-day Internationals but conveyed to the PCB they were not inclined to play in Pakistan in the present security situation. "We have agreed to host the series at neutral venues in the UAE and we are in the process of finalising dates and venues," PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said. He said the South Africans had agreed to play in the UAE as they were keen to have the series against Pakistan. "The series is on but the venues have changed we are now looking at Dubai [ Images ], Abu Dhabi and Sharjah as possible match venues," Butt said. Only Sharjah has in the past hosted Tests way back in 2002 when West Indies [ Images ] refused to tour Pakistan and the series was held in the UAE state. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become virtual home grounds for Pakistan having hosted several of their One-day Internationals and Twenty20 [ Images ] matches since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore [ Images ] in March, 2009. The last time the South Africans were in Pakistan in 2007, bombers attacked a caravan of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto [ Images ] in Karachi forcing the PCB to shift a match at Karachi to Lahore.

[b555]

well done SA :two_thumbs_up:

[achilles]

So they can tour Zimbabwe when the world condemns them, but they can't tour Pakistan?

[b555]

So they can tour Zimbabwe when the world condemns them' date=' but they can't tour Pakistan?[/quote'] the world just condemns dude... but PCB and the Taliban do a little bit more... i do think u want smith,kallis and steyn and others to be alive for few more years... dont u ??

[achilles]

Agreed that in the past, Pakistan has taken security very lightly. But after more than a year in isolation, a world cup taken away from them and the public out there starved of watching cricket, don't you think its fair to give them an opportunity to make amends? :icflove:

[Ram]

Some nation refusing to tour Pakistan isnt news anymore. If someone is actually brave enough to go there, then thats news. How ironical though - Cricketers from all over the world are either already in India, or rushing to get there after finishing their international commitments, while no one wouldnt get anywhere near Pakistan. Hope the Pakistanis are watching this and do some serious sole-searching.

[achilles]

Soul-searching is the sole searching job they must be doing right now.

[Zap_Brannigan]

Wait....PCB actually asked SA to tour Pak? Were they high?

[DomainK]

Wait....PCB actually asked SA to tour Pak? Were they high?

Exactly. How are they even inviting players to their country even after what happened to the Lankan team? Who goes with the invitations and how does he even utter the words? Ridiculous.

[Mr Eintstein]

kid refuses to eat brussel sprouts for dinner :asleep: it just aint news anymore.

[Sooda]

Soul-searching is the sole searching job they must be doing right now.

Well they need a few middle order batsmen, searching for those would be a plan :cantstop:

[Mamu]

Some nation refusing to tour Pakistan isnt news anymore. If someone is actually brave enough to go there, then thats news. How ironical though - Cricketers from all over the world are either already in India, or rushing to get there after finishing their international commitments, while no one wouldnt get anywhere near Pakistan. Hope the Pakistanis are watching this and do some serious sole-searching.

Sole, Soul, Search and Thinking in the right Direction are words and phrases that don't exist in their dictionary/thesaurus etc. etc. If that were the case this world would be a much peaceful place. Out of curiosity -- why did this SA thing come up now? I thought it was already scheduled in the UAE. So did PCB go and ask SA to tour again ? I am not sure where did this news come from?

[Serani]

As if anyone would risk touring there, even Pakistan refuses to tour pakistan.

[vvvslaxman]

As if anyone would risk touring there' date=' even Pakistan refuses to tour pakistan.[/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical:

[Mamu]

As if anyone would risk touring there' date=' even Pakistan refuses to tour pakistan.[/quote'] This actually got me thinking. Why doesn't the PCB ask the Paki Players if they want to play there -- to begin with. Are the Paki cricketers willing to travel from Hotel to Stadium in a bus? Don't forget they were 5 minutes away from getting shot themselves.

[Serani]

They are naive to think because they are pakistani they will not be targetted, these terrorists wouldnt care either way.

[Mamu]

Agreed that in the past' date=' Pakistan has taken security very lightly. But after more than a year in isolation, a world cup taken away from them and the public out there starved of watching cricket, don't you think its fair to give them an opportunity to make amends? :icflove:[/quote'] You must be smoking Achilles. It is not that Pakistan doesn't have police force to protect, the BIGGER problem is the NoBody trusts their security. Don't forget 20% of their army have soft corner for radicals. A lot of their security personnel are part of the terror network. You do not know if the guy who is protecting you is a policeman or a part of the terror network. And this is the problem they have. Just to remind you the Driver of the Bus of the SLankan team (apparently a Hero) -- had a picture of his brother hanging on the wall of his house, who was a Terrorist -- killed in Kashmir. Think about it -- if this Driver was driving the Indian Team Bus. Here is the Linkl http://www.trendpk.com/pakistan-bus-hero%E2%80%99s-brother-was-a-jihadi-in-jammukashmir/11841.html

[achilles]

^ C'mon. If we try to be just as narrow-minded and stupid like the terrorists and Retired Army Generals out there, where does the difference lie?

[Serani]

You must be smoking Achilles. It is not that Pakistan doesn't have police force to protect, the BIGGER problem is the NoBody trusts their security. Don't forget 20% of their army have soft corner for radicals. A lot of their security personnel are part of the terror network. You do not know if the guy who is protecting you is a policeman or a part of the terror network. And this is the problem they have. Just to remind you the Driver of the Bus of the SLankan team (apparently a Hero) -- had a picture of his brother hanging on the wall of his house, who was a Terrorist -- killed in Kashmir. Think about it -- if this Driver was driving the Indian Team Bus. Here is the Linkl http://www.trendpk.com/pakistan-bus-hero%E2%80%99s-brother-was-a-jihadi-in-jammukashmir/11841.html

Thats just media being sensationalist about the driver, if your brother gets killed then your going to mourn his death no matter what he was, it doesnt mean he has terrorist sympathies. Im sure he would have done the same if he was driving the Indian bus as he did with the lankans.

[achilles]

Agreed they've got a problem. But we need to give them the opportunity to get back on their feet. Coz its not just an emotional decision. As for the politics of the issue, BCCI know they need PCB's help in getting stuff through at the ICC meetings during voting. So it really serves no purpose to create an enemy and boost the axis of the ECB, CA & CSA. Oh yes, and lets forget the driver. Did you know, Shahid Afridi's cuz brother was a terrorist too? He was gunned down a few years back. Does that mean Afridi's a lesser human than us?