USA Cricket Association (USACA) has welcomed Indian proposal to host Pakistan-India one day internationals in Flordia's ICC approved stadium.
"We are keen to have both the top teams of the sub-continent and we welcome India's proposal in this regard ", said Nabeel Ahmad, Senior Vice President, USACA while talking to APP Saturday from Detroit.
Indian Deputy Foreign Minister in a statement recently said that it would be better for India and Pakistan to resume one day cricket ties at a neutral venue and USA could be an ideal choice because of larger Indian and Pakistan diehard cricket loving community living in North America.
"It is a very good proposal because everyone related to cricket wants that Pak-India should resume their international cricket as such events are always thrilling and entertaining ",he said.
He said USACA is fully ready to host any such venture and they can arrange such a series even at a short notice.
Nabeel dispelled the impression that USA did not have a international stadium. "To put the record straight we have a 8000 capacity ICC approved stadium in Florida which can accommodate nearly 25000 spectators with make shift arrangements by erecting spectators stands in those pavilion where people sit on grass and watch the game.
USACA official said ICC was keen to have international matches in USA because of growing passion of the game among the people including the expatriates of sub-continent and South East Asia.
"Cricket is gaining rapid popularity in USA, specially T-20 cricket and youth is taking keen interest and more and more players are coming into the fold of cricket and we see a bright future of the game in USA because market is full of sponsors and we plan to build more international cricket stadiums with the passage of time in other parts of the USA", he asserted.
He said Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt had also stated in a recent media inter-action that USA could host Twenty-20 or one day international matches as ICC was interested to have matches there on the grounds that if teams could travel and play in West Indies, closer to USA, then could explore the possibility of playing in USA as well.
"It is a good gesture shown by PCB but we want to make one thing clear that we are capable of hosting a full fledged series, the way Abu Dhabi is hosting Pakistan's ongoing three ODI matches against New Zealand and Dubai Sports City where two, T-20 matches will be played ",he said.
"If Abu Dhabi or Dubai can host successive matches, why cannot we and there should not be any reluctance from PCB or any other Cricket Board on this issue, because in the present circumstances they are playing at neutral venues where just one international standard facility (stadium) is available ",he maintained.
Nabeel said USA has a vast range of sponsors and in the presence of growing number of sponsors BCCI and other cricket Boards have approached them to play in USA.
"We anticipate hosting India or any other top cricket nation in near future to play T-20 cricket or a league on the pattern of Indian Premier League", he said.
