Pakistan not seeking ‘reciprocal’ England tour
HEAD coach Misbah-ul-Haq is adamant that Pakistan’s upcoming tour of England amid the pandemic is not dependent upon a return visit.
International cricket is set to resume next month for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak, as England host the West Indies in a three-Test series staged behind closed doors.
Pakistan are also meant to play three Tests, as well as three Twenty20s, in a series scheduled to start on August 5, although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have still to confirm the dates.
Major international teams stopped touring Pakistan after Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in 2009. Although some sides have returned recently, it is 15 years since England last visited the country.
But Pakistan chief selector and head coach Misbah, in a conference call last Saturday (13), rejected talk of a reciprocal arrangement.
“It is not in our minds that ...the ECB has to do for us in return,” he said. “It is important for us to restart international cricket somewhere, get the players back on the ground. That is the most important thing at the moment.”
Nevertheless, looking to the longer term, the former Pakistan captain said: “Obviously, we are not expecting anything in return but overall, we want not just the ECB but all cricketing nations to help each other so this game can grow. It’s important for cricket fans in Pakistan and also for Pakistan cricket that countries start touring Pakistan.”
Misbah added that Pakistan’s experience of playing ‘home’ games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) without the “energy” from fans would stand them in good stead for matches in England where there will be no spectators on health grounds.
“Nobody understands it better than us because we played much more cricket than any other team in the world with empty stadiums in the UAE,” he said.