'Cricket Community Needs To Support Each Other': Misbah-ul-Haq Urges England To Visit Pakistan
Published - 26 Aug 2020, 11:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:33 AM
Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has called on the England team to pay a return visit to his country. The former Pakistan captain cited the recent examples of players from around the world visiting the country as he urged England to tour them soon.
With Pakistan paying them a visit amid the pandemic, all eyes are on England at the moment. England are scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2022 and it would be interesting to see whether they go ahead with the tour or not. England have not visited Pakistan since 2005/06 season.
The reason behind it was security concerns following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore. In the wake of the attack, all the teams had decided against traveling to Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan were compelled to play their home games in UAE for nearly a decade.
However, things have looked promising in recent times as the likes of West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have visited Pakistan. Pakistan have also hosted Pakistan Super League (PSL) at home to show the world they are ready to host other countries again.
“Looking into the future, we would really appreciate England visiting Pakistan soon,” Misbah-ul-Haq said in column for the Pakistan Cricket Board. “A number of England players have appeared in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, which was played at home. Then, we had Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and MCC in the 2019-20 season and before that, the World XI and the West Indies in 2017-18.”
“Players from all over the world now know about the levels of security Pakistan can provide and how much they will be welcomed. Pakistan cricket fans want to see top players in the world performing right in front of them so everybody is waiting for that visit.
“This is one way that everyone can support each other in difficult times. The whole cricket community needs to support each other – that’s the only way to promote the game and bring joy to fans and cricket lovers,” he added.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s comments came after the end of the three-match Test series between the two countries which ended in England’s favour. The hosts won the first Test before the following two games ended in draws. Both the teams will now lock horns in a three-match T20I series, starting on August 28.
