Pakistan is not in a position to host foreign teams: Shoaib Akhtar – Cricket News Update
Former pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080 has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board to refrain from inviting foreign teams to tour Pakistan, owing to the precarious security situation in the country.
“Our citizens are not safe and there is a war going on in the country. Therefore, inviting a team in these conditions will be risky,” Akhtar said.
“What if a visiting team is attacked again?” he added. “So I would advice to the PCB not to invite foreign teams since the country is not in a position to stage any international event.”
Pakistan has been off-limits for foreign teams since 2009, when the touring Sri Lankan team was targeted by militant terrorists on their way to the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. The attack left 6 Pakistan policemen and two civilians dead, while six members
of the visiting team were injured.
Since the incident, Pakistan’ status as an international venue for sporting events has come under doubt, and the PCB has been forced to stage “home” series at neutral venues such as the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033, which has played host to most of Pakistan’s home
series for the past 3 years.
Repeated attempts on part of PCB chairman Zaka http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 Cricket Board was later forced
to cancel the tour owing to a court injunction in Dhaka.
While concerns regarding the risk involved in inviting foreign teams to tour the country have been expressed before, Akhtar’s comments have not gone down well with the PCB, with an unnamed board official pointing out that the 36-year-old’s statements are
detrimental to the progress of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket.
“Everyone knows what the ground realities are in Pakistan ... but some things don't need to be stated publicly,” said the official. “But since he is a retired player he has the right to air his opinions although those views might not help Pakistan cricket.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to host yet another home series in the UAE, this time against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. The tour comprises 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, and is due to begin on August 28.
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