Misbah: No home Tests holding Pakistan back

Pakistan are losing ground on Test rivals because they cannot host international teams owing to security concerns and accordingly play fewer test matches, captain Misbah-ul-Haq said yesterday. As his team prepared to take on the world’s top-ranked test team South Africa in the three-test series starting in Johannesburg on Feb. 1, Misbah said Pakistan were at a disadvantage because of the “limitations.” “As a team it is very difficult when you not playing a format on a regular basis. You really have to work hard. But we have to adjust, you could say it is a limitation for us but we are professionals, we have to do well,” he told a news conference. “We don’t have home series and when you aren’t playing at home then you miss a lot of cricket and you play only about five or six tests a year when other teams are playing 15 or 16 Tests a year. It really does affect your team.” Pakistan have not hosted a test-playing team since armed militants attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009, killing eight Pakistanis and wounding six Sri Lankan players. Their ‘home’ matches since then have been held at neutral venues, mostly in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, while Pakistan have not played a Test series anywhere since July last year. Misbah said that the success of the two-match series between a World XI and a Pakistani All Star team in October last year showed that Pakistan could safely host international matches. “Pakistan is such a big cricketing nation and the world has to think about bringing international cricket back (to Pakistan). “The T20 tournament in Pakistan saw full stadiums for every match. There were no (security) concerns. The people should have international cricket,” he said. Misbah’s words were echoed by Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema who said that the situation in Pakistan was a lot safer than outsiders perceived. “Our people in Pakistan are being deprived of international cricket. There is a difference between perception and reality. People don’t come (to Pakistan) on the pretext of security concerns. But I can tell you that it is as safe as any country in the world,” he said. Bangladesh were due to tour Pakistan this month but it was postponed for security reasons. Irish confirms ODI dates Ireland will play two one-day internationals at home to Pakistan in May, Cricket Ireland said yesterday. Pakistan will use the matches at yet to be specified venues on May 23 and May 26 as preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy starting on June 6. “It’s fantastic news for Irish cricket, and we’re grateful to both ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board for making the series possible,” said Ireland coach Phil Simmons. “Pakistan are a formidable one-day side and it’s a great way of measuring where we are as a team. We’ve had some wonderful tussles with them in the past, and for many, Irish cricket was born the day we beat them in the 2007 World Cup. That win grabbed the attention of the world and we haven’t looked back since.” British media quoted Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore as saying: “We are eagerly awaiting our matches against the Irish team. “Irish cricket has been improving consistently and we will be looking forward to some competitive games ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.” From Arabnews