Pakistan cricket is limping back to normalcy. Things may not be looking too good for its team – it lost all three One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh and managed only to draw the first Test – there is some good news ahead with Zimbabwe agreeing to tour Pakistan from May 19 with three ODIs and two T20s scheduled to take place in Lahore. Zimbabwe will be the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March of 2009.
The Federation of International Cricketers' Association has issued multiple warnings against international teams touring Pakistan. "The risk assessment that we have received from FICA's security consultants is that an international tour to Pakistan remains an unacceptable risk and teams are advised against travelling there at present", Tony Iris, FICA's executive chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. "Although we are sure that the Pakistan Cricket Board will do what they can regarding a security plan, our experts advise that the risk is unmanageable".
Despite such warnings, there may still be light at the end of the tunnel for cricket in Pakistan. A four member delegation from Zimbabwe Cricket arrived in Lahore on May 6 to review the security arrangements ahead of the tour. Alistair Campbell, managing director for Zimbabwe Cricket has expressed confidence in the tour taking place. "They've left no stone unturned to make sure that we will be safe", Campbell said about the security arrangements put forward by Pakistan. "We look forward to coming here".
The International Cricket Council is also waiting the assessment of an independently commissioned security report before deciding whether or not to send their officials for the tour. If the security report comes back negative, the Pakistan Cricket Board will have to use their own officials for the series.
Six-year gap
No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in March of 2009 near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed. Six members of the Sri Lanka cricket team were injured. After the incident, Pakistan was stripped of their right to host the 2011 World Cup (eventually given to India) and the ICC Champions Trophy.
Only two countries have toured Pakistan since that attack – Afghanistan and Kenya – Afghanistan played three List A matches back in February of 2013 while Kenya toured in December of 2014 to play the Pakistan A team.
Security and homesickness
While all matches are scheduled in Lahore, people will be travelling from all over Pakistan to witness this landmark tour. Faizan Lakhani, Sports Correspondent for Geo TV (Pakistani television news channel) and sports reporter for around 15 years, told Scroll in an email that the tour is more than just about cricket. “Pakistan's home series against Zimbabwe is not just a series for Pakistan; this is an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its improved security. People in Pakistan are really excited to see Zimbabwe coming to play Cricket”.
The reason that all the matches are taking place in one stadium is security. The PCB has residential facilities close to the stadium in Lahore and this will reduce the distance needed to travel by the Zimbabweans. Talks were on for using a similar facility in Karachi, but that didn't work out.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test captain, who was part of the squad when the Sri Lankan team bus was ambushed, articulates what other cricket enthusiasts feel. “At least something is happening for which people and players had been waiting for”, Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “It's a big joy for all of Pakistan cricket fans, players and for the PCB officials."
Bangladesh was the closest to touring Pakistan in this period when in 2013, the tour was officially announced. A court in Bangladesh, however, stepped in and stopped the Bangladesh Cricket Board from sending a team to Pakistan.
So why did Zimbabwe agree to tour Pakistan when other nations have refused? “I think Zimbabwe is also a nation which is deprived of international Cricket”, Lakhani said. “In past, several teams refused to tour Zimbabwe on political grounds so they can understand how it feels when international teams are not visiting your country. Security situation in Pakistan has also improved following military operation against terrorists”.
Home away from home
In the six years that went by, Pakistan used the United Arab Emirates – Dubai and Abu Dhabi – as their “home” venue as other countries refused to tour Pakistan voicing concerns over security. About two dozen players have made their début since 2009, but none have been able to play at home because of the security situation. .
Misbah said that the lack of home games in Pakistan has hurt the cricketing infrastructure in the country besides resulting in homesickness among players and loss of interest among fans. “You were forced to play outside Pakistan in the UAE, which really hurt Pakistan cricketers because you are not getting the crowd and the kind of feeling that you have playing at home”, Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “You get homesickness, as you have to have cricket among your own people in your own grounds”.
Apart from winning three out of the seven Test series played in the United Arab Emirates, and drawing the other four, Pakistan have had a middling record in their temporary home. Since 2012, they have played five ODI series and have lost four of them, only managing to scrape past Sri Lanka 3-2.
There has been talk of making United Arab Emirates as a “permanent second” home and in fact, Tristan Lavalette, writing for Firstpost, suggested another home for Pakistan – Singapore or China – and thus starting a new chapter in Pakistani cricket.
Lakhani says that this idea is nothing new. “The PCB spoke with Malaysia and Singapore in the past but the idea was scrapped”. He further adds, “It won't provide Pakistan the environment it enjoys in UAE. There are more logistic hurdles in playing matches at Malaysian or Singapore's grounds than UAE. PCB would stick to UAE”.
Hoping for the best
The mood in Pakistan is upbeat. Even though Zimbabwe (10th in Test rankings and 11th in ODI rankings) are the team touring Pakistan, everyone in Pakistan is excited and looking forward to the tour. Zimbabwe have improved under Whatmore and after a disastrous tour of Bangladesh, Pakistan can’t afford to get complacent with respect to them.
As for the future, despite the Zimbabwe tour, the Pakistan Board hasn’t got any other tour tied up. It has been in talks with minnows Afghanistan and Ireland for a home series, but nothing has materialised as yet. Clearly, it would be hoping that nothing goes wrong with this tour and that it gives the confidence to other teams to come and play cricket.
The Federation of International Cricketers' Association has issued multiple warnings against international teams touring Pakistan. "The risk assessment that we have received from FICA's security consultants is that an international tour to Pakistan remains an unacceptable risk and teams are advised against travelling there at present", Tony Iris, FICA's executive chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. "Although we are sure that the Pakistan Cricket Board will do what they can regarding a security plan, our experts advise that the risk is unmanageable".
Despite such warnings, there may still be light at the end of the tunnel for cricket in Pakistan. A four member delegation from Zimbabwe Cricket arrived in Lahore on May 6 to review the security arrangements ahead of the tour. Alistair Campbell, managing director for Zimbabwe Cricket has expressed confidence in the tour taking place. "They've left no stone unturned to make sure that we will be safe", Campbell said about the security arrangements put forward by Pakistan. "We look forward to coming here".
"Zimbabwe security delegation clears Pakistan tour" #PakvsZim pic.twitter.com/FpYtZ5jwUH
— Pakistan Cricket (@PakCricketPCB) May 6, 2015
The International Cricket Council is also waiting the assessment of an independently commissioned security report before deciding whether or not to send their officials for the tour. If the security report comes back negative, the Pakistan Cricket Board will have to use their own officials for the series.
Six-year gap
No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in March of 2009 near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed. Six members of the Sri Lanka cricket team were injured. After the incident, Pakistan was stripped of their right to host the 2011 World Cup (eventually given to India) and the ICC Champions Trophy.
Only two countries have toured Pakistan since that attack – Afghanistan and Kenya – Afghanistan played three List A matches back in February of 2013 while Kenya toured in December of 2014 to play the Pakistan A team.
Security and homesickness
While all matches are scheduled in Lahore, people will be travelling from all over Pakistan to witness this landmark tour. Faizan Lakhani, Sports Correspondent for Geo TV (Pakistani television news channel) and sports reporter for around 15 years, told Scroll in an email that the tour is more than just about cricket. “Pakistan's home series against Zimbabwe is not just a series for Pakistan; this is an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its improved security. People in Pakistan are really excited to see Zimbabwe coming to play Cricket”.
The reason that all the matches are taking place in one stadium is security. The PCB has residential facilities close to the stadium in Lahore and this will reduce the distance needed to travel by the Zimbabweans. Talks were on for using a similar facility in Karachi, but that didn't work out.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test captain, who was part of the squad when the Sri Lankan team bus was ambushed, articulates what other cricket enthusiasts feel. “At least something is happening for which people and players had been waiting for”, Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “It's a big joy for all of Pakistan cricket fans, players and for the PCB officials."
Bangladesh was the closest to touring Pakistan in this period when in 2013, the tour was officially announced. A court in Bangladesh, however, stepped in and stopped the Bangladesh Cricket Board from sending a team to Pakistan.
So why did Zimbabwe agree to tour Pakistan when other nations have refused? “I think Zimbabwe is also a nation which is deprived of international Cricket”, Lakhani said. “In past, several teams refused to tour Zimbabwe on political grounds so they can understand how it feels when international teams are not visiting your country. Security situation in Pakistan has also improved following military operation against terrorists”.
Home away from home
In the six years that went by, Pakistan used the United Arab Emirates – Dubai and Abu Dhabi – as their “home” venue as other countries refused to tour Pakistan voicing concerns over security. About two dozen players have made their début since 2009, but none have been able to play at home because of the security situation. .
Misbah said that the lack of home games in Pakistan has hurt the cricketing infrastructure in the country besides resulting in homesickness among players and loss of interest among fans. “You were forced to play outside Pakistan in the UAE, which really hurt Pakistan cricketers because you are not getting the crowd and the kind of feeling that you have playing at home”, Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “You get homesickness, as you have to have cricket among your own people in your own grounds”.
Apart from winning three out of the seven Test series played in the United Arab Emirates, and drawing the other four, Pakistan have had a middling record in their temporary home. Since 2012, they have played five ODI series and have lost four of them, only managing to scrape past Sri Lanka 3-2.
There has been talk of making United Arab Emirates as a “permanent second” home and in fact, Tristan Lavalette, writing for Firstpost, suggested another home for Pakistan – Singapore or China – and thus starting a new chapter in Pakistani cricket.
Lakhani says that this idea is nothing new. “The PCB spoke with Malaysia and Singapore in the past but the idea was scrapped”. He further adds, “It won't provide Pakistan the environment it enjoys in UAE. There are more logistic hurdles in playing matches at Malaysian or Singapore's grounds than UAE. PCB would stick to UAE”.
Hoping for the best
The mood in Pakistan is upbeat. Even though Zimbabwe (10th in Test rankings and 11th in ODI rankings) are the team touring Pakistan, everyone in Pakistan is excited and looking forward to the tour. Zimbabwe have improved under Whatmore and after a disastrous tour of Bangladesh, Pakistan can’t afford to get complacent with respect to them.
As for the future, despite the Zimbabwe tour, the Pakistan Board hasn’t got any other tour tied up. It has been in talks with minnows Afghanistan and Ireland for a home series, but nothing has materialised as yet. Clearly, it would be hoping that nothing goes wrong with this tour and that it gives the confidence to other teams to come and play cricket.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!