PCB buys four bulletproof buses in the hope to woo international cricket

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Web Desk
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PCB buys four bulletproof buses in the hope to woo international cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board has bought four bulletproof buses in a move to enhance security for players visiting the country.

The board hopes that the action first approved during chairman Zaka Ashraf’s tenure in 2012 will help convince international teams to tour Pakistan, the ESPNcricinfo reported.

The last international team Pakistan hosted was Zimbabwe in 2015. No other international teams have visited Pakistan since 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked near Gaddafi Stadium. Gunmen opened fire at a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team killing six security personnel and injuring five cricket.

"We have bought these four Coaster buses as part of our efforts to revive international cricket in the country," a PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "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 PCB relies on the government for security arrangements for visiting teams. The bulletproof vehicles would play a major part in convincing teams about security arrangements.

The  buses were sanctioned in 2012. The matter was taken up once again by PCB executive committee head Najam Sethi last year.

"We are actually planning to host the PSL final in Lahore, but this requires us to convince overseas players to come," the PCB spokesman said. "We have to have discussions with the 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."