Oz hoping to revive international cricket in Pak by sending women, army teams

Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward has said that his country would send their top women and army cricketers by next year to Pakistan in a bid to revive international cricket in the Asian nation.

The development has come five years after militants attacked the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore. Millions of cricket-crazy fans have not witnessed any international cricket action in the country since the March 2009 attack.

Pakistan has been compelled to play all their home series at neutral venues, mostly in the UAE, as almost all foreign sport teams including those of cricket have avoided touring the country due to security concerns, The Dawn reported.

High Commissioner Heyward expressed his disappointment over the more than five-year absence of international sport in the country. He said that this is really unfortunate that international teams are not visiting Pakistan, and hopes for an early revival of the sport in the cricket-mad country.

He said that authorities in his country were working closely with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in this regard, and added that they intend to send their top women players to play against Pakistan women cricket team.

Heyward added that Australia's Army team would also be seen playing against Pakistan Army team in 2015.

Kenya's men team is also scheduled to visit Pakistan in December this year. The tour of Kenya is part of a campaign launched by the PCB to revive international cricket in Pakistan, the report added.