PCB, SLC sign agreement

The PCB has signed an agreement with Sri Lanka Cricket under which the two boards have agreed to allow their players to take part in the domestic T20 premier leagues of both countries.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf said from Kuala Lumpur that the document was signed.

"Under this agreement we will allow our players to go and play in the Sri Lankan premier league and Sri Lanka have agreed to permit their players to come and play in Pakistan when we launch our premier league," Ashraf said.

However sources said that under the contract both boards could give clearance to their players for the leagues but could not force them to go and play in either country.

While Sri Lanka will hold its premier league from August 10, Pakistan is yet to announce dates for its league which is slated sometime in November this year.

The PCB chief also said that he was interested in signing a similar exchange contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

"But since the Bangladesh Premier League is not slated this year we have plenty of time to negotiate with them."

Ashraf also said that he had spoken to officials of other boards and had got positive response from the South African, Australian and England boards.

"These boards have assured us that whenever we launch our domestic premier league they will see if they can make their players available for it," Ashraf said.

But the PCB chief admitted that at present no board was interested in sending its national team to Pakistan because of security concerns.

"Frankly no one is interested in making tours to Pakistan as they point out to the security issue in Pakistan," he added.