PCB trying to convince Cricket Australia for two ODIs in Pakistan in March 2019

Pakistan is slated to host Australia for five ODIs in March-April 2019 as build-up to the World Cup which will be played in may in England. However, if sources are to be believed, the Pakistan Cricket Board is trying to convince Cricket Australia to play two out of their five ODIs in Pakistan. The Australian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since 1998 and since the attacks on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, foreign teams have had second thoughts about touring the country. However, in the last couple of years, teams like Zimbabwe, West Indies, Sri Lanka and an International Cricket Council XI have played Twenty20 International series in Pakistan.

Read More | 'Sensible decisions key for Indian team’s success in Australia'

However, according to a PCB official, the series could be rescheduled as close to the World Cup as possible. “Since we will be hosting the Australians, we have told them try to play two matches in Pakistan. The process is on but nothing is final as yet,” the official said. Apparently, Pakistan is scheduled to play five ODIs in England before the start of the World Cup.

Read More | Johnson taunts Kohli, says he looks forward to no feisty send-offs

Ehsan Mani, who is the current chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has said teams have slowly started changing their perceptions about travelling to Pakistan, pointing out that the Asian Cricket Council’s annual general body meeting held in Lahore last week was a good step forward for Pakistan cricket as ICC's CEO Dave Richardson was also present. “Once anyone comes to Pakistan and views the situation by himself, it will not be hard to convince him that international cricket can return to Pakistan properly. But it is not easy trying to change the perception of people who have not been to Pakistan in recent times,” Mani said.

Return of Steve Smith, David Warner

The proposed series against Pakistan could see the return of Steve Smith and David Warner, who have been banned for one year due to the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town against South Africa. Following the decision of Cricket Australia to not reduce the bans, Smith and Warner’s bans will come to an end on March 2019.

Australia last played an ODI and Test series in Pakistan in 1998, winning the Tests 1-0 and the ODIs 3-0.