Sharjah offers to host SL-Pakistan series

Sharjah cricket officials have said that they would be happy to host Pakistan’s series against Sri Lanka if required, but have not been approached to do so, The National reported yesterday.

Pakistan is due to play a limited-overs series against the Sri Lankans on home soil, starting later this month.

However, 10 senior Sri Lanka players have already pulled out of the tour because of security concerns.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board then announced they had been warned by their government about a possible terrorist threat during the tour.

“Sri Lanka Cricket has been advised to take extreme care and reassess the situation before embarking on the tour,” the board said in a statement on Wednesday.

Sharjah Cricket Stadium would be available. Mazhar Khan, the ground’s administrator, says they have not been sounded out, either formally or informally, but they would do their best to accommodate the sides if required.

“We have been together for the past 40 years so if they come, we would be happy to host them,” Mazhar said.

As well as Pakistan vacating the fields of UAE this winter, the Afghanistan Premier League will also be absent from the calendar.

The T20 franchise league was inaugurated last season when it was played in Sharjah.