PCB to seek Interior Ministry clearance for home matches
7 Sep 2008, 1425 Hrs

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Karachi, Sept.7 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that henceforth it might approach the Interior Ministry first before announcing plans to host international games on home soil.

Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, said: "We have the option of inviting one or two teams for one-day matches but will only go ahead with them after getting a clearance from the Interior Ministry."

Pakistan is making efforts to arrange for some international matches later this month to compensate for the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy because of security fears, reports The News.

Five of the eight competing teams refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy forcing the International Cricket Council to postpone the event till next October.

Suicide bombings continue to rock Pakistan and PCB officials are apprehensive about hosting international cricketers because they believe that even a minor incident involving the visitors would tarnish Pakistan's reputation as a cricketing destination.

Pakistan are to host India for a full series early next year, an event that would be a welcome change for the country which was left without a single Test in 2008 because Australia's refusal to tour the country earlier this year because of security fears.(ANI)