The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to cancel its 'A' team's series against the West Indies after the Caribbean side refused to tour Pakistan due to of security concerns and offered to play in the United Arab Emirates, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that according to reliable sources in the board, the West Indies A team was due to play in Pakistan as part of a reciprocal tour.
But the West Indians recently informed the PCB that they would not send their team to play in Pakistan due to security concerns and instead offered to play the series at any neutral venue namely the UAE. "But the PCB after giving careful consideration decided that either the West Indies A team play in Pakistan or the series should not be held at all. The thinking in the board is that if other Test playing nations even refuse to send their second string and under-19 teams to Pakistan and want to play at neutral venues it would not only mean increased expenses but also send out a very negative message to the outside world," one of the sources said.
According to a news in The Nation, the West Indies A team players refused to tour Pakistan and WICB informed the PCB that they would not send their team to play in Pakistan and instead offered to play the series at any neutral venue or in the UAE. "But the PCB after giving careful consideration decided that either the West Indies A team play in Pakistan or the series should not be held at all. The thinking in the board is that if other Test playing nations even refuse to send their second string and under-19 teams to Pakistan and want to play at neutral venues it would not only mean increased expenses but also send out a very negative message to the outside world," said a source.
Pakistan’s status as a venue for international cricketing events was called into question in March 2009, when the visiting Sri Lankan team found them the target of a militant terrorist attack as they made their way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Six members of the Sri Lankan team were wounded, while six Pakistani policemen and two civilians killed. Since the incident, foreign teams have refused to tour the troubled country, and despite repeated attempts on the part of the PCB to bring international cricket back to Pakistan, little progress has been made in the difficult situation.