While there are ongoing discussions over Sri Lanka’s upcoming tour to Pakistan, Cricket Australia Chief Executive is hopeful about Australia’s travel to Pakistan in 2022. The security concerns should not be a problem, he believes.
Pakistan to welcome cricket soon
Since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 by two gunmen in Lahore, Pakistan has been an isolated nation when it comes to hosting international cricket tournaments. Since then teams have refused to travel to Pakistan. But recently Sri Lanka cricket board has decided to move on and send the team to the South Asian country. They will play three T20Is and ODIs each starting from September 27 which will mark the return of full-fledged cricket to Pakistan for the first time since 2009.
Australia to visit Pakistan in 2022
Australia also is scheduled to visit Pakistan in 2022. Recently, Kevin Robers, CA chief executive visited Pakistan to check the security arrangements in the country. Interestingly he is the first high-level delegation to tour the country in a decade. Speaking on his visit, Roberts said to Melbourne’s SEN radio, “The purpose was really to understand the landscape, look at the plans they have in place around security and then start expressing our expectations for the safety of our players and our support staff well over two years away from when we’re due to tour.”
He also mentioned that he was satisfied with the situation and arrangement. He insisted that the safety of the cricketer would be the utmost priority although they want to do the tour to Pakistan. “Things are heading in the right direction. In saying that we were travelling in armoured cars and escorted by police and felt very safe over there. But certainly that level of security is still required at this point. We would love to see international cricket return to Pakistan. We would never put our people in jeopardy.”
