PCB to invite ICC officials to witness Sri Lanka series

The Pakistan Cricket Board is planning to invite top officials of the ICC to witness the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka to get a first-hand view of the security arrangements for visiting teams and to attempt to change the perception of Pakistan as an unsafe place to tour.

Salim Altaf, the PCB's chief operating officer, said the chairman Ijaz Butt is also planning to invite Jack Clarke, Cricket Australia's chairman, to Pakistan when they meet in Perth on January 31 for the ICC Executive Board meeting.

"There is a big possibility that the PCB chairman will invite his counterparts in ICC and Cricket Australia to visit Pakistan during the Test series (against Sri Lanka)," Altaf told the News.

"The Sri Lanka series in Pakistan can be used as a yardstick by the ICC and Cricket Australia. Now that the series against India is not happening, the only opportunity for others to see for themselves that Pakistan is a safe destination for cricket is the series against Sri Lanka."

Pakistan have been hit hard by pull-outs over security fears over the last year. A tour by Australia and the Champions Trophy were postponed to 2009 while India cancelled their scheduled tour for January following the Mumbai terror attacks. Sri Lanka had agreed to tour the country to fill in for India and will play three ODIs this month before returning in February for two Tests.

The series opens in Karachi on January 21. Altaf said the board will provide VVIP security cover for all players and officials.