Miandad asks Pak to play 'home series' offshore

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Karachi, October 3:: Pakistan's former captain and coach Javed Miandad advised the Cricket Board to play its home series at neutral and offshore venues until teams feel safe and secure to tour Pakistan.

Miandad, a veteran of 124 Tests, said Pakistan cricket has to accept the reality that most teams are justified in having reservations about touring Pakistan in the existing conditions.

"Lets be honest the conditions are not ideal and we are on a high security alert. It is better to avoid having international teams playing in Pakistan until the security situation improves," Miandad said.

The batting great said for the time being Pakistan should not be shy of playing its home series at neutral or offshore venues.

"More than anything our players need to remain active at the international and domestic level or cricket will slowly die out in the country.

"Our team must remain active so that the interest for cricket remains high and even there are incentives for those playing on the domestic circuit," Miandad added. He said it would not be a bad idea if Pakistan told Australia to host them early next year as there was little chance of the Australians coming to Pakistan. I think we can talk to cricket boards about swapping series. Like we go to Australia next year for the Tests and hopefully when conditions improve they will come to Pakistan when we have to go there," he stated.

Another former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also recently said the Board should forget about inviting teams to play in Pakistan for the time being as no one could guarantee the security of touring players in existing conditions.

Pakistan has been woefully short of international cricket at home this year with no Tests played and two important events postponed.

First the Australians postponed a much awaited Test tour in April and then the International Cricket Council was also forced to postpone the eight-nation Champions Trophy in September.

Pakistan has now said it was willing to consider playing two Tests against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi in November if they don't come to Pakistan.

Miandad said what was most important was that Pakistan cricket remained active and the Board should now plan ahead for the next 12 months at least. "It will take time for things to settle down in Pakistan," he said.

Miandad also called on President Asif Zardari to give a lot of thought to appointing a new Chairman in the cricket Board.