Pakistan visit delights Morgan

David Morgan believes the neutral Test and Twenty20 series in England next summer "are bound to be well supported"

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ICC president David Morgan is relishing the prospect of huge crowds when Pakistan and Australia clash on English soil next year.

The sides will meet in Tests at Lord’s and Headingley Carnegie as well as two Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston.

Pakistan have been forced to play home series overseas in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March, and amid ongoing concerns over the security situation.

“The ICC welcomes this encouraging move,” said Morgan following the launch of the series at Headingley yesterday.

“Ideally all of Pakistan’s home series would take place there but clearly that is not possible at the moment. The next best thing is for the matches to take place in neutral venues.

“With so many Pakistanis and Australians living in England, not to mention plenty of others who just love watching Test cricket and the ECB’s excellent track record in staging international cricket, the matches are bound to be well supported.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia are all to be congratulated for this co-operative and innovative response to an unfortunate situation.

“It is another example of the great spirit that exists in our sport. For Test cricket to continue to develop and grow in popularity, it’s essential the Pakistan cricket team continues to play competitive matches.

“This partnership between the boards will not only enable this to happen it will also provide finances that can be invested in grassroots schemes to help safeguard cricket’s future as the number one sport in Pakistan.”