18 Aug 2010

ICC wants a team to tour Pakistan by next year

6:46 pm on 18 August 2010

The International Cricket Council is hoping to send an invitational World Eleven to play fixtures in Pakistan by the end of 2011.

Cricket tours of Pakistan were halted after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

Giles Clarke, the head of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, says world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan, the security challenges are huge but they can't allow the terrorists to win.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Clarke claimed it was still to early to send a national side to Pakistan, but an invitational team could travel as they would partake in a shorter tour, taking in fewer venues.

The ICC also removed Pakistan as one of the four planned hosts for the 2011 World Cup, which will be staged in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February.

In the interim, Pakistan have played their "home" matches at venues in the United Arab Emirates and in England, where they are currently touring.