Sri Lanka's Pakistan tour cleared: Cricinfo

Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapakse has cleared the national team's tour of Pakistan next month. The series had been confirmed by the Pakistan board last week but its status became uncertain after the Sri Lankan interim board, headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, was dissolved on Tuesday by the country's sports minister Gamini Lokuge.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama announced the decision to tour after talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse. The foreign ministry said in a statement, "Minister Bogollagama is of the view that sport is an effective means of promoting connectivity between nations and thereby enhancing friendship and mutual goodwill between countries." The tour, it said, is scheduled to run from January 20 to February 25,

Unsurprisingly, the decision has been welcomed by a Pakistan starved of top-flight, international cricket. Javed Miandad, director general PCB, asked people to come out and watch the series. "Not only the cricket fraternity but the whole of Pakistan is thankful to the Sri Lankan president for clearing their tour to Pakistan," he told AFP

"I hope more and more people come to watch Sri Lanka play in Pakistan because we want to prove to the world that Pakistan is safe and secure for cricket," he added. His views were echoed by Shoaib Malik, Pakistan's captain. "It's great news. It will give us some much needed international cricket and we are determined to do well."

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Pakistan cricket signs $140.5 million TV deal: AFP

Pakistan cricket signs $140.5 million TV deal

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan cricket officials on Sunday signed a five-year, 140.5 million dollar television rights deal with the Gulf-based Taj Entertainment Network, the cricket board said.

The deal, described as "excellent" by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf, allayed fears that broadcasters might bid less for Pakistani cricket because foreign teams have been refusing to tour the country over security concerns.

"It is an excellent deal which will run from 2009 to 2013 for a period of five years and will start from our home series against India," Altaf told AFP.

The Taj Entertainment Network, which operates TEN Sports and is owned by Gulf-based businessman Abdulrahman Bukhatir, also held Pakistan cricket broadcast rights from 2004 to 2008.

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Pakistan hope to keep winning: Hindustan Times

G Krishnan, Hindustan Times

Dhaka, June 07, 2008

Pakistan are on a roll. They have won their last 11 One-day Internationals. Now they are hopeful of continuing the momentum in the Kitply Cup tri-series beginning in Dhaka on Sunday, first up against hosts Bangladesh.

The third team in the competition, India, handed them their last defeat, the series-clincher at Gwalior last November after which Pakistan won the inconsequential fifth ODI at Jaipur to begin their victorious run, slaying Zimbabwe and Bangladesh 5-0 each at home.

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