ICC is closely monitoring the security situation in Pakistan and will send inspection teams only after the general elections are completed.
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is closely monitoring the security situation in Pakistan and will send inspection teams only after the general elections are completed.
Sources in the Pakistan cricket circles said that the ICC had conveyed to the PCB that they would be sending an inspection team to review the situation after the elections as Pakistan is due to host two ICC events -- the Women's World Cup qualifiers and the Champions Trophy this year.
The ICC had postponed the Women's World Cup qualifiers in November due to the uncertain political situation in Pakistan and later its inspection team returned midway from a tour to Pakistan to review the arrangements for the Champions Trophy due to be held in September and October.
The sources said the ICC was also keeping a watch on the scheduled tours of the country by Zimbabwe and Australia.
"The Pakistan board itself wants the elections to be held soon and things to return to normal so that its cricket activities are not affected adversely," one source said.
"The more delay in elections and the more difficult it would be to host Zimbabwe and Australia on time. It would also have repercussions for the Women's qualifiers and the Champions Trophy," he said.
Normally, the ICC sends its team to set up a camp office to look after the arrangements and preparations for the Champions Trophy at least five to six months in advance.
But with Pakistan in turmoil, the ICC is now just monitoring the situation like the Australians.
The PCB top officials have held some meetings in the last 48 hours according to sources in which some contingency plans have been discussed, including postponing and revising the tour by Zimbabwe.
"Naturally, even the PCB realises that it is better to have some cricket involving its team than to have no cricket at all," one source said.
Nasim Ashraf, the PCB Chairman, is due to reach Lahore on Thursday to chair another high level meeting in which these issues and the new central contracts for the players would be discussed.
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