It is not easy decision for foreign teams to come to Pakistan under prevailing alarming security situation and the current wave of suicide bombings in Pakistan, former Pakistan cricketing greats have said.
Lahore, Mar 12 : It is not easy decision for foreign teams to come to Pakistan under prevailing alarming security situation and the current wave of suicide bombings in Pakistan, former Pakistan cricketing greats have said.
Former all-rounder Mudassar Nazar said that security situation had made it very difficult for foreign teams to visit the country. "Lahore used to be a safe place once and we would hold matches here. But it is no longer so," he said.
"The circumstances make it very difficult for foreign teams. Suicide bombers are exploding everywhere. Its just difficult to convince foreign teams to come and play in such an environment," The Nation quoted Nazar as saying.
Similarly, former batsmen Salim Malik said: "No team would like to travel to Pakistan in current circumstances. We all know that England and Australia pull out on minor things and are very sensitive on security issues. Then no city is safe. You could change itinerary if one city is safer than others. But now with blasts everywhere, where could you shift matches?"
Former opener Aamir Suhail said that President Pervez Musharraf should have spoken to Aussie Prime Minister in order to convince him to play in Pakistan. "President Musharraf should have talked to Australian Prime Minister and taken him into confidence and convince them to play here. Nasim Ashraf's job is to run the board, not managing the security of the country. Circumstances were different for Zimbabwe series and cannot be compared to Australia series. The future chances of Australian team's visit depend upon on how good relationship one govt has with the other," he said.
ANI