NOW IT’S YOUR TURN ENGLAND
Wasim urges return tour
PAKISTAN legend Wasim Akram has told the ECB his country is owed a visit by England it in 2022 – their first in 17 years.
On a day in Southampton where just 10.2 overs were possible because of rain – during which England limped to 7-1 in response to Pakistan’s 236 all out – the former skipper was already looking forward to the return fixtures.
International cricket became impossible for a time in Pakistan in the aftermath of a terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
As a result, England have not toured the country since a 2-0 Test series defeat in 2005, instead playing them in the United Arab Emirates.
However, in recent years more and more top-level cricket has returned to Pakistan, with a presidential level of security provided for those who have visited.
And following the decision by the country’s Test team to travel to the UK during the pandemic and help the ECB out of a broadcasting and financial hole, Akram is adamant there is a debt to be repaid.
The legendary all-rounder, below, said on Sky Sports Cricket, where he is a pundit: “You boys owe Pakistan cricket, and the country, a lot, with the boys coming over here.
“They’ve been here almost two and a half months in the bio-secure environment.
“So if everything goes well, England should tour Pakistan.
“I promise you they’ll get looked after on and off the field there and every game will be a packed house.
“The English players were there for the Pakistan Super League in our team, Karachi Kings – Alex Hales and Chris Jordan.
“They loved it, they enjoyed it, they got looked after beautifully, so the PSL is a step in the right direction.” Sri Lanka were the first international team to return to Pakistan while more and more matches in the PSL took place on home soil, and now the entire tournament is played there.
A tour led by Kumar Sangakkara, was also undertaken by the MCC.
James Anderson is the only current England player to have played international cricket in Pakistan. He finished with 3-60 yesterday, Stuart Broad wrapping up the innings to return figures of 4-56 during a brief morning session.
There was time for Rory Burns to edge two of the four balls he faced from Shaheen Afridi to second slip, the second of which carried and was taken comfortably.
Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley survived until bad light intervened and will want to show their mettle on the final day of the Test today.