Pakistan asks to stage ICC event in 2018

The PCB has expressed its interest to stage an ICC event in 2018 in Pakistan, where no international cricket has been played since March 2009, and duly requested cricket's governing body to consider the proposal . The ICC has acknowledged the request but hasn't given any assurances, saying that no confirmed event is currently scheduled for 2018.

"We fully understand the PCB request and we will consider if it is possible to host an event in Pakistan subject to the standard safety and security clearances," Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said.

The absence of incoming tours has hit the PCB financially, forcing it to approve a deficit budget as it 'hosts' teams on neutral territory. No team has visited Pakistan due to security concerns since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

The executive board unanimously adopted the report of its Pakistan Task Team (PTT), headed by the ECB chairman Giles Clarke, containing 63 recommendations covering key areas of governance, cricket administration, playing structure, financial viability and communications. "I am pleased that the PCB will consider this report at its next Board meeting," Lorgat said.

The board also decided that stadia hosting ICC global events must be match-ready at least six months before the event, based on a recommendation from its finance and commercial affairs committee.

The decision comes in the wake of the issues that the ICC faced during the 2011 World Cup, when some venues, including Kolkata's Eden Gardens, struggled to complete their preparations in time for hosting matches. The ICC even had to shift the marquee India-England clash from Eden Gardens to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

"Even though the event was hugely successful, it is important for us to learn lessons so that we can continually improve our events," Lorgat said.