Abottabad venue for Af-Pak cricket match
May 10th, 2011 - 4:57 pm ICT by IANSKarachi, May 10 (IANS) Afghanistan will play a one-day cricket match against Pakistan A in the garrison city of Abbottabad, a few kilometres from the hideout where Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed earlier this month.
Afghanistan, who play a three-match series against Pakistan A May 25-29, will be the first international side to tour Pakistan in more than two years.
The Afghans will play the other two games at Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement.
International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan over security fears since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. The attacks, which killed eight people and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach, prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to strip Pakistan of its share of matches for the 2011 World Cup.
Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket board officials hope the tour will encourage other international teams to change their mind.
The Afghan team, which is coached by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, will arrive on May 24 before playing matches in Faisalabad the following day, Rawalpindi on May 27 and Abbottabad on May 29.
- Abbottabad removed as venue of Pakistan-Afghanistan cricket series - May 19, 2011
- Pakistan cricketers starts preparations for upcoming Sri Lanka tour - May 17, 2012
- Routine security for Afghanistan-Pakistan cricket series - May 14, 2011
- Tanvir to lead Pakistan side against Afghanistan - May 18, 2011
- Pakistan cricket team to tour Sri Lanka in June - Apr 30, 2012
- ICC may allow local match officials in Pakistan - Mar 07, 2012
- Latif targets getting Test status for Afghanistan in two years time - Sep 15, 2010
- Latif resigns as Afghanistan batting coach citing gross work interference - Aug 24, 2010
- Pakistan, England to play 'disabled' cricket series next year - Jan 28, 2011
- Sri Lanka to end Pakistan's cricketing isolation with October series in country - Feb 25, 2011
- Abbottabad fast becoming no-go area for sports - May 21, 2011
- Bangladesh will tour Pakistan: ICC - Apr 15, 2012
- Latif becomes Afghan "head coach" following quitting PCB over spot-fixing comments - Sep 15, 2010
- Rashid Latif appointed Afghan team's batting coach - Jul 16, 2010
- Dhaka High Court postpones Bangladesh's cricket tour to Pakistan - Apr 19, 2012
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