Legendary fast bowler –Wasim Akram, who is currently working as Multan Sultan technical director in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018, on Friday, said he is confident that the T20 tournament will bring International cricket back to the country.
Pakistan has not hosted an International match since cricket since a terrorist attack on Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in 2008. Though, they have hosted Zimbabwe for a T20Is last year.
According to a report in The Gulf Today, Wasim Akram told reporters, “PCB chairman Najm Sethi has done a fantastic job. I am sure not only we will take PSL back to where it belongs but also take cricket back to Pakistan through PSL. It is very much feasible to organise PSL in Pakistan. We have a great infrastructure to hold any cricket event in Pakistan.”
Pakistani legend further added, “We have stadium at Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Multan. You name the city and we have one stadium there. People of Pakistan love cricket. They breathe cricket. They live cricket. They have a passion for the game.”
Commenting on hosting PSL 2018 final in Karachi, Wasim said, “Yes, I think it is a great idea to host the PSL final in Karachi. It is a city of 22 million people. It is buzzing. It is happening. Let the people of Karachi have their share of pie as well.”
On being asked about Indo-Pak bilateral series, Akram said, “Pakistan is always ready to play India anywhere in the world. It is about the government of the two countries. But I think it is imperative for the betterment of cricket that the Asian giants start playing each other. An India-Pakistan match is a high octane, pressure cooker game. I don’t think any cricketing event generates so much excitement and pressure as a match between the two countries.”
Wasim signed off by saying, “I can vividly recall the kind of pressure that we felt in every game against India. It is not that the pressure is on that particular day but we used to feel it one month in advance. Ashes is watched by around 20 million people where as an India-Pakistan match is watched by one billion people. SO I feel pity for the player today. I am fortunate to have played in those series.”
