The international cricket has started returning to Pakistan, though, the top cricket playing teams are still hesitating to visit the country ever since the deadly terror attack on Sri Lanka team bus, though the overseas players welcomed the improvement in the security situations in the country.

Having successfully hosted World XI, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and West Indies, the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken a big step towards advertising Pakistan as a safe country for the game by hosting the ongoing fifth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 there.

Read Also: PSL 2020: Rest of the PSL matches in Karachi to be played behind closed doors

There is no doubt that the security situations in Pakistan have improved tremendously with the international stars lauding the arrangements and hailing the safety in the country – which has been encouraging the cricketing fraternity to start seeing the Asian nation as safe to travel.

This is for the first time when the PL 2020 is being played entirely in Pakistan and that’s biggest indications of a societal shift over touring the country and England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who is currently playing for Multan Sultans in the ongoing PSL, has heaped praise on the amazing country as well as the atmosphere in the tournament.

He further revealed the major reason behind his participation in the PSL 2020 and that is to see the return of the game to Pakistan. He also hailed the PSL atmosphere as “unbelievable and amazing” and rated it as best he has ever experienced.

Moeen told The Cricketer in an exclusive interview: “It is also to experience the atmospheres and a bit of franchise cricket, but the reason mainly to participate in the PSL is to get Pakistan playing cricket again and getting their fans to experience good players coming here.”

The all-rounder further added, “Being of Pakistani heritage, it definitely means a lot to come out and experience it. My father was very keen for me to come out. It’s been amazing. In the three games that I’ve played here, the atmosphere was unbelievable, right up with the best I’ve ever experienced.”

He also believes that Pakistan’s security reputation is a little bit unfair in the world, as the safety issues are anywhere. The Englishman further explained: “I think it (Pakistan’s security reputation) is a little bit unfair because you’re not safe anywhere. It can be the wrong place, wrong time.”

Ali continued, “Even in England now, the crime rate’s massive. I just feel the perception you have from the outside is it’s not safe to go. My counter-argument is it’s not safe anywhere, really. Yes, there are some places you might feel a bit safer but the security has been really impressive. We had the same thing in Bangladesh a few years ago when some guys didn’t go. It was brilliant.”

Meanwhile, the all-rounder was joined by his wife Firuza, children, mother and father in his PSL journey in the ongoing PSL2020 and cricketer said there is a great vibe around.

He added, “Pakistan is a beautiful country — the food, the place, the people are amazing. There’s a vibe in Pakistan which is different from other places. I don’t know if it’s because of my background and my roots, but there's a great vibe around. People are very hospitable, they just look after us really well. It’s like a nice chill and obviously the cricket is tough. The fans are electric, especially the Multan fans in the three games that we had there. They love cricket, and I’ve always felt that sport — and cricket in particular — can bring people together and take you away from all the bad stuff. That’s what we probably need.”

Moeen would be certainly desperate to be part of an England squad that is scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2022 to play three Tests and five ODIs and he said it would be a major milestone for the game.

The all-rounder further explained, “It would be a major stepping stone, milestone, whatever you want to call it for England to come out here. It would send a message to the rest of the world. It would be great for cricket. If they ask and they want to know, of course, I’ll be honest about it. I won’t be biased for or against it at all. I’ll tell them what I think and believe.”

He signed off, “As a player, you hope that cricket does come back here and you’re part of that legacy. You hope you’re part of that group that came back and played cricket in Pakistan again. It depends on how people look at it. I look at it as being safe, or at least safer. You might be somewhere where something happens - in South Africa, for example - and you don’t have that. Then you’d be in trouble.”

(With The Cricketer Inputs)