International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has ruled out the possibility of international cricket returning to Pakistan soon. Lorgat said that until teams had the confidence to visit Pakistan and were satisfied with the security environment it would not be possible to resume international cricket in the country. “I can only advise Pakistan to follow the example of South Africa who focused on their domestic cricket when they were isolated from international cricket and managed to return with a bang,” Lorgat told a news conference Thursday. “PCB has strategic plans to ensure that domestically the game thrives and it retains its place in the international cricket world by competing, and ensuring that they keep the national team as strong as they've ever been,” he added. Lorgat is the first ICC official to visit Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last year which killed six policemen and wounded five players and officials. No international team has visited Pakistan since and the ICC was also forced to move 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan because of the security situation. The Pakistan Cricket Board was even forced to organize its home series at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, while its home Test series against New Zealand last year was played on opposition soil. Pakistan is also scheduled to compete against Australia in both test and one-day series in England this summer. “The ICC is very keen to ensure Pakistan play at neutral venues rather than not competing at the international level, which I think will be detrimental for Pakistan cricket,” Lorgat said. “(It is) an unfortunate reflection of circumstances that's been beyond the control of Pakistan cricket. We are trying our level best (that) they play.” Lorgat was in Pakistan as part of the buildup to the World Twenty20 tournament, which takes place in the West Indies. Pakistan is the defending champion after winning the trophy in England last year. “It's fantastic to visit the reigning champion Pakistan and I am sure they will perform well this year too,” Lorgat said. Lorgat was hard-pressed to forecast who will win the trophy in a month's time, but chose Pakistan, India, Australia and South Africa as the four semifinalists. “Those are my four teams and I guess any big performance beyond that which Shahid Afridi did in the semifinal and final last year can win the tournament,” Lorgat said. PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt hoped Lorgat's visit would go a long way to reviving international cricket in Pakistan. “Haroon's presence in Pakistan at a time when international cricket is not possible here is hugely reassuring and once again illustrates the commitment of the game's global governing body to do whatever it can to help ensure cricket remains healthy in Pakistan,” Butt said. Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Afridi is confident his team will repeat last year's performance in the competition, when it defeated Sri Lanka in the final to win the trophy.
