UAE likely to stage Pakistan-NZ ODI series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalised the UAE as the first choice venue for holding the One-day International series against New Zealand, scheduled in November-December this year, while the United States and Malaysia have been put as second and third choices repectively, informed sources told Dawn on Monday.

Pakistan are to host New Zealand for Test and ODIs series later this year, but as the Kiwis are quite reluctant to visit Pakistan due to security concerns, both the PCB and the NZC have nearly finalised to hold the three-Test series in New Zealand with Pakistan as the hosts in principle despite being the visiting side.

But for the ODIs, the PCB is very keen to stage the matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Though the terms and conditions offered by Abu Dhabi authorities are fairly acceptable, the Dubai Sports City has yet to agree on all terms with the PCB. The sources informed that the PCB is also wary of its previous mistake of not thrashing out all the terms and conditions prior to the five-ODI series against Australia in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai early this year which backfired on the Board as the accounts for the series are yet to be settled.

To make Dubai Sports adopt a softer stance this time, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt met the high officials of Dubai government on Sunday. The second possible venue of the ODI series could be US, but sources said the PCB could face problems in getting a good number of visas for the players, officials as well as few joyriders.