Pak wants to host their 2011 WC matches in Dubai

Facing the stark reality of not being able to host any international teams at home, Pakistan Cricket Board is keen to make Dubai its neutral home venue with the tacit approval of the big guns behind the Dubai Sports City including Abdul Rehman Bukhatir.      

Sources in the PCB told PTI that Pakistan was now even pushing to get back its share of the 2011 World Cup matches and want to host them at the Dubai Sports City ground which was used for the first two one-day internationals against Australia.      

"Bukhatir is keen to get back international cricket to Dubai and Sharjah and is willing to work out an arrangement with the PCB to achieve his ambition," one source said.      

The source said after the ICC and Indian Board combined nearly six years ago to force Bukhatir to close down his highly successfully international cricket operations in Sharjah, Bukhatir now wants international cricket back but at the Dubai Sports City.      

"On the other hand Pakistan is also keen to host international teams and they see Dubai as a very viable neutral venue option given the short traveling time between Pakistan and Dubai and the presence of a huge number of Pakistani and other Asian expatriates in the UAE," the source explained.