‘ICC need to do more’ – Sarfaraz Ahmed calls for support to bring international cricket back to Pakistan
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, has urged the International Cricket Council to do more to bring cricket back to the country.
Sarfaraz was speaking after Sri Lanka Cricket announced that they would reassess the security situation in Pakistan, ahead of their limited-overs tour of the country at the end of the month. A delegation from Sri Lanka had initially been satisfied with the arrangements the PCB had made for the team’s safety and committed to the tour.
However, on Thursday, September 12, the board revealed the Sri Lanka government had received a fresh security threat that had warned of a possible terrorist attack on the national team. The SLC made the announcement while naming the squads for the tour, which did not include ten senior players, including ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne and T20I skipper Lasith Malinga, both of whom opted out.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Lasith Malinga both opted out of touring Pakistan
Sarfaraz wasn’t drawn on the rumours about why Sri Lanka were reconsidering the tour, but implored the ICC to do more for Pakistan. “I don’t know anything about this, nor can I say who is behind the threat to Sri Lankan Board,” he said. “But I just think the ICC and member boards needs to do more to support the return of international cricket to Pakistan.”
Sarfaraz also pointed out that it was a Pakistan side that first toured Sri Lanka after the Easter bombings in the island, at a time when there were similar doubts over the viability of Sri Lanka hosting international cricket. That tour, featuring the Pakistan Under-19 team, was eventless, and Sarfaraz expected this to be no different.
“Recently, after the Easter bomb attacks, the Pakistan board sent its Under-19 team to Sri Lanka, at a time when everyone was wondering whether there would be international cricket in Sri Lanka again,” Sarfaraz said. “The security situation has improved a lot, and in the last few years, we have successfully hosted cricket without any problem and there have been no security issues.”
A Sri Lankan security delegation visits the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan
Despite the doubt over the tour, Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, said that they were not looking at neutral venues, expressing confidence in Sri Lanka to go ahead with the tour. “Our decision is very clear, and we are not exploring any other neutral venue,” he said. We don’t have the time to shift or look out for any other option right now.
“Our default position is that it is Pakistan’s home series and it will be played in the country. This has been the understanding right from the start, and we are in discussions with the Sri Lanka board and they are also very positive about sending their team.”
Pakistan are set to play three ODIs in Karachi, on September 27, 29 and October 2, and three T20Is in Lahore on October 5, 7 and 9.
