Pakistan's Cricket Board purchases four bulletproof buses
Friday 15 July 2016 08:20, UK
Pakistan's Cricket Board (PCB) has bought four bulletproof buses, as it tries to convince other nations to shed their security apprehensions about visiting the country.
Pakistan has largely been shunned by teams since 2009, when gunmen in Lahore attacked a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, injuring six players and killing six security personnel - as well as two civilians.
Since then, Pakistan have been forced to play 'home' matches in the United Arab Emirates while the country remains starved of international cricket on home soil.
The one exception during these past seven years was the visit of Zimbabwe whose short tour consisted of limited-overs matches in 2015.
A PCB spokesman said: "We have bought these four Coaster buses as part of our efforts to revive international cricket in the country.
"There will be high expectations from teams willing to visit Pakistan and we want to ensure that we provide them with the best possible arrangements.
"Having these bulletproof vehicles would play a major part in convincing teams about security arrangements."
The spokesman explained that the PCB wanted to host the final of the Pakistan Super League, after the inaugural edition was held in UAE earlier this year.
The spokesman added: "We have to have discussions with players about their safety and security, and I think this new addition in our security facilities will definitely give us an edge.
"Our ultimate goal is to revive international cricket, and we are doing our best to make sure we can."
