Ireland tour to Pakistan put on hold

Ireland

Pakistan will have to wait a while longer for international cricket's return to their grounds, after Cricket Ireland confirmed that their proposed limited-overs tour to the country in September has been put on hold.

Pakistan will have to wait a while longer for international cricket's return to their grounds, after Cricket Ireland confirmed that their proposed limited-overs tour to the country in September has been put on hold.

there has not been international cricket in Pakistan since early 2009, when terror attacks on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore saw teams refuse to go there. This proposed tour by Ireland was to be their comeback.

But since the terror attack at Karachi airport this week, where at least 30 people died, the Irish have been advised not to go to Pakistan. Previously, Bangladesh pulled out of proposed tours, twice.

Cricket Ireland spokesperson Barry Chambers told <i>Cricinfo</i>: "Cricket Ireland and the PCB were in advanced discussions to play three ODIs in Pakistan in September.

"These discussions had taken place between the respective chairmen and CEOs over the past three weeks, and had involved contact with ICC, governments, and security advisors.

"There had been a preliminary agreement to play three games subject to a security review by credible experts, and agreement from the players and staff, which would have been the next stage of the process.

"With the recent tragic events at Karachi Airport, the series will now be deferred to a later date.

"Cricket Ireland is obviously very keen to secure as many fixtures as possible against Full Members, and these proposed games would have been very beneficial ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup."

This comes on the heels of the news that international T20 specialists Herschelle Gibbs and Jacob Oram withdrew from a exhibition T20 match to be played later this year, upon the advise of their agent, after the attacks.

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