Former cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed believes that England’s players are “open-minded” and that they will visit Pakistan soon. The Three Lions had pulled out of bringing their men’s and women’s sides to Pakistan for the home series in October earlier in September. New Zealand had cancelled their trip to the Asian country before the 1st ODI, prompting their decision. Here is all about Will England Tour Pakistan?
Will England Tour Pakistan?
It would’ve been England’s 1st series in Pakistan since 2005 if the tour had taken place. With just 2 T20Is to be contested, the series would last in 4 days. The Pakistan Cricket Board and a group of former cricketers voiced their unhappiness with the decision when both sides dropped out.
The 51-year-old Ahmed, on the other hand, seemed hopeful, saying that the England players will not let them be disappointed. He stated that the British should recognize the fact that Pakistan visited England for a bilateral series during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak.
England knows the circumstances of the world: Ahmed
“I think from my experience, playing in England and also the coach of England for six years, I think the guys are very open-minded and they know the circumstances of the world,” Ahmed said.
“I know them — I played with lots of cricketers, I coached them for six years, I played (English) county cricket. I think (the) players will definitely come now,” he stated.
“If (a) team can travel in corona (virus) situation when the people were dying (in Britain) and Pakistan went to England and played a series, then they should have acknowledged that and they should respect that,” Ahmed said.
International cricket in Pakistan came to a standstill after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan squad. Pakistan began to play their home matches in the United Arab Emirates following that. Zimbabwe visited Pakistan in 2015, although cricket in Pakistan has yet to take off in reality. It’s not hard for the player to compete at their “home away from home”.
“I am saying that because heroes become heroes when they play in front of their home crowds and that is when you start believing that you can represent your country — you deserve that platform,” he added.
Also read: MI Are Back Into The Playoff Race After Beating PBKS
