South Africa turns down tri-series

Posted by Hilal

Karachi, Sep 5 (IANS) Pakistan cricket officials received yet another setback Friday when their South African counterparts finally rejected a proposal to host a tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month.

A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told IANS that Cricket South Africa (CSA) declined the proposal saying that their players needed a break after a marathon away series against England.

The PCB had proposed to CSA to host a triangular tournament in the second half of September. Pakistan is desperate for some international cricket after the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the Champions Trophy which was supposed to take place in the country from Sept 12-28. The eight-nation tournament was switched to next October because of security concerns expressed by five competing nations.

Pakistan was banking on South Africans to host the series that would have given their cricketers an opportunity to play some top-class international cricket. The Board would also have earned a profit of over one million dollars from the series.

But following South Africa’s negative response, PCB officials are now working on other options that includes having a tri-series in Abu Dhabi or on home soil.

A PCB spokesman said that a decision on the issue will be made next week. Meanwhile, South Africa’s coach Micky Arthur welcomed CSA’s decision against hosting the proposed tri-series.

‘A lot of the senior players have played a helluva lot of cricket this year, it’s taken its toll and they need a break,’ Arthur told reporters in Johannesburg.

‘I’m sure the tri-series is not going to take place and, in retrospect, it’s a relief the Champions Trophy was called off because we would have been back on a plane flying out on Sunday,’ he said.

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SLC demands $1Million to participate in Tri Series

Posted by Hilal

The ExpressIndia reports that the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has set an exorbitant figure for it's teams participation in the Tri Series in South Africa.

Sources said Pakistan had offered a fee of USD 300,000 to the cash strapped Sri Lankan Board to take part in the tri-series but it had asked for one million dollars.

"The interesting thing is that even the Pakistan Board is close to a financial crunch and not in a position to shell out one million dollars for this one series," revealed one source. Sources also say that PCB is doing all what it takes to make the series happen.

"Pakistan is now trying to first rope in sponsors and broadcasters for the series and have asked them to up their prices to meet the Sri Lankan's demand," the source said. However, it is not only the monetary hurdles but the internal administrative problems which the PCB is countering in organising the series.

"The fact that the Pakistan board is presently operating without a Chairman has not helped matters," the source said adding "obviously before committing such a huge amount to the Sri Lankans the board officials have to get the approval of the international cricket committee and the governing body members."

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South Africa unsure about Tri Series

Posted by Hilal

News24.com of South Africa reports that the South African players have not received any information on this supposed Tri Series which was to include Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa later this month.

If this series fails to take place both Sri Lanka and Pakistan will suffer from the lack of international cricket this season.

The Proteas have heard nothing from Cricket SA although the news media in Pakistan have been reporting almost daily about the series that is supposed to take place in South Africa.

The BBC also reported that the South Africans had agreed, according to sources in Pakistan, in principle to the series.

It seems Pakistan wanted India to play in the competition, but when they pulled out, Sri Lanka took the third place.

The only reply from Cricket SA has been that they did not want to comment on series or tournaments that have not been confirmed.

Members of the SA team in England are not saying anything "on the record", but they don't make any secret of their reluctance to play in the proposed series.

They are coming to the end of a long tour and it has been clear lately that they are exhausted.

It has been said that the proposed series could be a major financial windfall. This could play a role in the administrators' thinking.

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Sri Lanka to play Tri-Series in September

The PTI reports that the Pakistani Cricket Board plan to rope in the Lankans and the Proteas for a triangular in September.

Sources in the Pakistan board confirmed that Sri Lanka has given its consent to play in the tri-series while India has expressed its inability to be involved in a one-day tournament.

"Pakistan had approached some countries including India to support the board in organising a triangular or quadrangular tournament in South Africa to fill in the gap left open in Pakistan's cricket calender with the postponement of the Champions Trophy," one source said.

He said while India had expressed its regrets as it was already due to visit Pakistan for a full series in early January, Sri Lanka agreed to a one-day tournament.

"Now the modalities including venues and dates for the tri-series is being worked out but tentatively it should start from September 12," the source stated.

Former cricketers had lashed out at PCB for trying to hold the series in South Africa which refused to send its team to Pakistan leading to postponement of Champions Trophy.

But senior Board official Shafqat Naghmi said Pakistan could not afford to ignore or boycott the countries which refused to send teams to Pakistan.

"We are not going to adopt a tit for tat policy because the decision to postpone Champions Trophy was in the end unanimous. People don't realise that Pakistan has still got the hosting rights and it was because of strong stand taken by some boards that the tournament was not relocated to Sri Lanka," Naghmi said. PTI

The ICC earlier announced that the Champions Trophy tourney scheduled to be held in Pakistan in September was to be postponed for next year due to security fears.

The Australians who also voiced concerns over touring Pakistan are scheduled to play a Test match in Bangalore, India despite the recent terrorist attacks which took place there.


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Australia's security fears nudging Champions Trophy to Sri Lanka

Posted by Hilal

Australia have joined New Zealand in refusing to accept assurances from an International Cricket Council delegation that the Champions Trophy can safely take place in Pakistan next month. Their response makes a further delay inevitable and increases the likelihood that the competition will be switched to Sri Lanka, writes David Hopps of the Guardian.



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