LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released its 38th podcast, which features three cricket legends – Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, England’s Michael Atherton, and Australia’s Allan Border – discussing Australia’s first tour to Pakistan in 24 years.
Border, who represented Australia in 156 Tests and also visited Pakistan and inspired his side to their first world cup in 1987, said it is an opportunity for the boys to make a name for themselves.
“This is the opportunity for the boys to really make a name for themselves. From Australia’s point of view, they have not had a lot of success in the subcontinent. It would be great from their point of view that someone stands up and say, you know, we can beat Pakistan in Pakistan, something a lot of really good sides have been unable to do,” he said.
“Conversely, for Pakistan, emerging as a young team and playing against Australia at home for the first time in 24 years, there’s the opportunity to really make names for themselves,” he added.
Border also claimed that it is going to be a really good series because both sides ‘have a lot to play for’, also hopeful of huge crowds to turn-up.
Atherton, on the other hand, who scored 7,728 runs for England in his 115 Tests, said it is important for Pakistan cricket fans that the international cricket is returning home, while also hoping the five-day cricket to flourish since ‘a relatively small number of countries’ play the longest format of the game.
“It’s great that Pakistan cricket supporters can see international cricket being played at home in Pakistan,” he said.
“Relatively a small number of countries play Test cricket and you don’t want to see Test cricket under pressure, particularly from the various franchise leagues around the globe. You don’t just want to see three or four nations constantly playing against each other. So, if there are going to be 12 Test-playing countries, you want all 12 to be flourishing and hopefully, the game also growing its footprints,” he added.
Atherton also claimed that it will be challenging for both batting line-ups since they will be facing good bowling attacks.
Furthermore, Wasim termed Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan as an achievement for the PCB and also claimed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) played an important role in the revival of international cricket in the country.
“Australia coming to Pakistan after 24 years is an achievement for the Pakistan Cricket Board. This series will have a huge impact on our cricket as it will improve our players’ approach and mindset. For the next generation of cricketers, this will be an opportunity to fall in love with this sport and get motivated to scale greater heights in their careers,” he said.
“Australia’s tour to Pakistan will send out a strong and powerful message that everything is fine and normal here. This is our third PSL in Pakistan and I keep telling foreign players that this security has been put in place because we are too cautious and do not want to risk anything. The foreign players understand this argument and are happy to continue to visit and play here,” he added.
Wasim further claimed that things have changed a lot since 1998; when Australia last toured Pakistan and also expressed hope that the quality of pitches will be much better for the scheduled series.
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