Pakistan should be allowed to stage international cricket again, captain Misbah-ul-Haq said yesterday as his team prepared to face top-ranked South Africa in a three-Test series
No Test series has been staged in Pakistan since armed militants attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore four years ago, killing eight locals and wounding six visiting players.
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“Pakistan is such a big cricketing nation and the world has to think about bringing international cricket back to the country,” the 38-year-old right-hand batsman said.
“A Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan saw full stadiums for every game and there were no security concerns. The people should have international cricket,” he told a media conference.
Misbah said having to play ‘home’ Tests abroad — often in the United Arab Emirates cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi — was affecting the competiveness of the team. “We play only about five or six Tests a year while other countries play 15 or 16 a year. This really does affect our team.”