Pakistan To Play International Cricket Matches in Dubai

by Jon Azpiri | September 25, 2008 at 09:30 am

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The Pakistani Cricket Board will play its international limited-overs and Twenty20 matches at a new stadium to be built in Dubai Sports City in the United Arab Emirates. The deal is believed to be worth $9 million over three years.

The Pakistani Cricket Board hopes the move will help them set up matches against top cricketing nations that have avoided playing in Pakistan due to ongoing terrorist activity. Earlier this year, Australian cricket officials canceled a tour of Pakistan due to security concerns.

The PCB has lost millions of dollars in revenue from the cancellation of matches and believe it is vital for cricket's financial well-being to make use of the facilities in the Emirates.

Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer of the PCB, said the new £4.8m deal with Dubai Sports City "gives us the option of playing international cricket and also improves our financial health."