These issues matter less to Pakistan fans, especially the many hundreds of thousands in England, than the prospect of seeing their team in regular action. It’s the cricket that matters. Pakistan fans will want to see a strong, confident side tackle Australia and England next summer, and the current captaincy shambles is especially unwelcome at this moment of optimism. Another concern is that the PCB will find some extraordinary way to look this gift horse in the mouth and smash its teeth.

At the launch event for Pakistan’s “home” series against Australia, a landmark home series that will have Lord’s at its epicentre, Giles Clarke declared that relations between the ECB and PCB have never been better, and reiterated his desire to support Pakistan cricket at this time of crisis. He has backed his words with actions. The series will take place. Former England captains Mike Atherton and Mike Brearley, John Barclay of the MCC, and David Morgan of the ICC, all supported the event and the desire to ensure the survival of Pakistan cricket.

It’s usually easy, and often fair, to criticise administrators, but this is one initiative that should earn plaudits for those responsible, as well as those showing solidarity at a time when it is fashionable to knock Pakistan and its people. The Pakistani community in the United Kingdom now needs to respond by making next year’s tours a thunderous success. Pass that test and we may see Pakistan back in 2011 to take on India.

Love spreads.

I would suggest Mr. Abbasi that at times he should also read the comments posted at his article which many a times happen to be more intelligent.thanks.

It's great. I really cannot wait to see Pakistan playing over here. I'm English with no Pakistani family, but I appreciate great cricket.
I'm honoured and proud that Pakistan are playing here next year

Giles Clarke, Urdu speaking chairman of the ECB??????????????????

A very big thank you is in order to the ECB. They have handed Pakistani Cricket and its fans an opportunity to get some much needed quality Test Cricket. The short fix of successful Twenty20 games is pleasing but we still need the main course of Test Cricket to see how we commpare against the World's best, Australia that is. I know its not the home series, which we all crave and pray will soon resume but it is the next best thing. Cricket in the Desert or in the UK is better than no cricket.

Pakistan Zindabad.

thanks to ecb and all friends of pakistan cricket

It is indeed heartening to hear that England will be hosting Pakistan test series. It is way better than Dubai.

On top of it, Pakistan batsmen will be seriously tested on the English conditions. As a result, they may improve their techniques.

Thanks ECB.

Surely a political decision agreed between the foriegn offices of the two countries to secure the only recreational thing the war-torn pakistani nation has and the only sport which takes peoples attention away from the hell that is been created by the west and savage talbans. Thanks to david milibands office for facilitating this whole thing. But sure we will pay this favour back by giving more of our soldiers lives and still save you peoples arses.

yes we are grateful to the ecb for this gesture. but will it be easy to forget their past antics. only as recently as the oval test it was the then ecb chairman david morgan and the english team who put the umpires upto checking for ball tampering!

and if we are being political shouldnt we look at the role of the imperial and neo-colonial powers into making pakistan the unsafe place that it has become?

Kamran, with most of the Pak team hailing from places such as Gugar Khan and Gaga Mundi, with little or no education not to mention any English speaking skills, it's important that as ambassadors of the country they should be taught some basic skills in public relations and media communications.

In this day and age just "Bismillah" and "thanks to Allah" just doesn't work. We should learn from Indians or Sri Lankans in that respect.

It's embarrassing to see some players playing international cricket for over 10 years (Shoaib Malik) can't put two sentences together in their own language.

Yes we are ready to welcome our national team in the UK and im sure all pakistanis here in the UK will be eagerly waiting for this opportunity to see our heroes in action in front of their eyes. I went to the warmup t20 b/w pak and ind at the oval, and trust me the atmosphere was electrifying. i just cant wait for next year..Bring it on!

I agree with Pakistan (& any other country unable to host home matches) having neutral home matches. However I disagree with it being played in another Test Nations country. Why not play the matches in Ireland, Scotland, Holland, USA or even China? Why not use these neutral competition as an opportunity to improve the image of cricket in Associate countries? After all, how will holding another international match in England improve the following (& ticket sales) of cricket?
In the long run, holding international cricket matches in USA will improve the standard of cricket in USA as there will be a following there.
Also, once again, why no 4-5 day matches between Aust/Pak & Ireland/Scotland?
Touring sides always play warm up matches, so why not have warm up matches against the highest ranked associate country(s) in that region. The highest ranked in each region is: Ireland, Afgan, Kenya, PNG & Canada.
This would reward the best associate sides & improve their following & performance.

Smell the money ! ECB's support will stop when there is no more money to be made. Its as simple as that. Giles Clarke is a businessman and will sleep with anyone if he sees bags of cash.

There are no favors here - from any sides at all. It is pure commercial sense to accommodate Pakistan cricket in England.

If anything in case the English cricket authorities were so much eager to endear Pakistan and extend a hand of friendship, they would have never pushed for reversal of the earlier decision to term as draw the Test sullied by Hair in Oval. Pakistan were wronged there and later ICC punished Hair and the least the ECB could have done was to respect that the dignity of Pak cricket had been hurt as a result of a rogue umpire.

It is an understanding for the benefit of both the parties & nothing more than that.But it is better for Pak cricket. You have mentioned the bitterness between the two sides. It is deeply rooted. You will see that bias still existing,when their spectators support Aus against Pak through slogans/newspaper articles.So don,t be amused much because their bossy & colonist attitude will not go that easily.

It can be a cracking series if Pakistan play to their potential or can reduce to a typical British damp squib if they play terribly, like when they collapsed to under 60 in each innings in Sharjah, during the Pakistan-Australia in Sharjah last time when they played at neutral venues. Pakistan has the talented batsmen, variety in bowling to unsettle the Australians and on their day Australia will find them more than a handful. The 64,000 pound sterling question is will Pakistan's day come?

Kamran, Well said. We should recognize and commend the tangible help and support provided by the ECB in this manner.

I agree wholeheartedly with the author. It is at a time of crisis that one knows who one's friends really are. Let us forget the bitterness of the past and for a change let us simply laud the efforts of those countries who want to ensure that Pakistan's international cricket stays afloat. The first time I read about the idea that Pakistan should play its "home series" in England was in an article written by a Kiwi. It appears that New Zealand also wants Pakistan's cricket to survive. That is why Pakistan's current "home series" is being played in New Zealand. So hats off to both England and New Zealand. May this be the start of better cricket relations between Pakistan and New Zealand on the one hand and Pakistan and England on the other.

No Article is complete without Mentioning India... We do get lot of coverage dont we....

A good article, until the last sentence.

Why fret over Pakistan's tour of India. II suggest Pakistan utilize ECB and England as a viable option to financial strength and cricketing excellence.

Good article - the role of ECB must be applauded to welcome pak in England; The 'Urdu' speaking Giles is a nice chap. As you say everyone especially the Brit Pak community should got out of their ways to make 2010 a resounding success.

Nice to have met you at the ECB event at Lord the other evening. I won the pak shirt, no hard feelings.

Only one negative comment ... why do pakistan appoint characters such as Ijaz Butt in high profile positions? A positive, vibrant person like a salesman with excellent communication skills must be a pre-requisite for these positions. I was very disappointed the way the PCB Chairman presented himself at the ECB event.

The ECB and in particular, Giles Clarke are very supportive of Pakistan at this difficult time in it's cricket history. We should respond by ensuring the success of the home series against Australia and I hope that as Pakistan is playing the "common enemy" it will get a lot of support from English fans too!

Giles Clark can speak in Urdu....this is brand new information for me (laughs)!!!!!! :D