Haroon Lorgat optimistic over Pakistan future

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat is confident international cricket will one day return to Pakistan.

In the wake of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore last month, the ICC admitted the country is simply not safe enough for international cricket and shifted the Champions Trophy to South Africa.

But Lorgat, in New Zealand with ICC president David Morgan as part of the game's centenary celebrations, remained positive that teams would return to the strife-torn country in the future.

"There's no reason to think not," he said.
"If you think back at some other countries in the world, like Ireland where it was not so safe in years gone by, we've got to be optimistic, we've got to be positive.

"I think scenarios change and some day in the future we will be back in Pakistan."

Morgan stressed the ICC would not abandon the country but reiterated international cricket would not return to Pakistan in the short-term.
"Quite clearly Pakistan is not a country where we can send cricket teams, officials and supporters in the immediate future," he added.

"There needs to be a significant change there in the level of safety and security.

"But Pakistan is an extremely important member of the International Cricket Council. It has produced some of the world's greatest cricketers and still has a very strong cricket team.

"The ICC policy is that Pakistan must not be isolated. The Future Tours Programme commitments for Pakistan need to be fulfilled even though in the immediate future they cannot be fulfilled on Pakistan soil.

"We are encouraging the other nations to entertain Pakistan on their home grounds and to play in third countries."

New Zealand are scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Tests and five one-day internationals during November-December but other options are now being explored, including having the matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Australia are due to play a five-match one-day series and a Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai and neighbouring Abu Dhabi later this month.