HOBART: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf and team manager Abdul Raqeeb predicted on Thursday international cricket will most probably be played in their country again within a year.
Raqeeb, speaking to reporters here after the side’s arrival at the completion of the New Zealand tour, was asked when international cricket would return to the country dogged by security concerns.
‘Things are improving in the country [Pakistan] and hopefully, most probably within the next year or so the teams will start coming to Pakistan,’ Raqeeb told reporters at the team’s news conference.
Raqeeb added the situation in Pakistan was such that the national side can’t play a home series.
‘But at least the cricket is on. Isn’t it? That’s the main thing, domestic cricket we are playing and that’s a good thing,’ he said. ‘Whether we are playing at home or abroad, at least, we are playing cricket.’
Yousuf then added to the manager’s response, saying: ‘If people want to play, why not come [to Pakistan]?’
‘It’s a good answer, I think,’ Raqeeb said.
Yousuf said: ‘Whenever you come [to Pakistan] you will be welcome.’
The International Cricket Council (ICC) this week said security remained the biggest problem facing world cricket. ICC President David Morgan said the attack on Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore in March had ‘changed the landscape’.
That attack, which also saw shots fired at a coach carrying the umpires and the match referee, led to the suspension of international cricket in Pakistan.
Since then the ongoing concerns about the safety of Pakistan as a venue for international sport, led the ICC to redistribute its scheduled 14 matches at the 2011 World Cup among Asian co-hosts India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Yousuf was confident of Pakistan’s bowling attack putting them into winning positions in the upcoming three-Test series against Australia.
He highlighted his team’s bowling as the main strength.
‘Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets but we need to improve our batting and fielding,’ Yousuf stressed. ‘I think we’ve got good spinners, the best spinners in the world, and fast bowling also.’
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who took seven wickets in the side’s last Test against New Zealand, will lead Pakistan’s spinning department while paceman Mohammad Sami’s recall to the Test side for the Australian tour will bolster the fast bowling ranks.
Sami was requested to help ease the burden on the team’s fast bowlers in what is expected to be a demanding tour. He will supplement an attack featuring Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Abdur Rauf.
Raqeeb said Sami, 28, had been playing well in domestic cricket. ‘That’s why the selectors have decided to send him,’ Raqeeb said.
‘Not only is he performing well, he is an experienced one. He has played a lot of Test cricket and we know it’s a mental game also, it’s not only talent that counts; it’s experience also and he is a very experienced bowler.
‘That’s why the selectors along with the captain decided to call him up.’
The Australian tour is a chance for Sami to revive his career. The right-armer played the last of his 33 Tests against India at Bangalore in December 2007 before he was sidelined for poor form.
—Agencies
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