Pakistan keen to host Australia on their own turf again

Abu Dhabi: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board says security issues in his country are “a matter of perception”, encouraging Australia to return to the volatile subcontinental nation after a two decade hiatus.

Australia haven’t played in Pakistan since 1998 because of concerns about security, with Pakistan “hosting” Australia abroad since then, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, but also in Sri Lanka and England.

Muhammad Hafeez heads back to the stands yesterday as Pakistan host Australia in the UAE.

Muhammad Hafeez heads back to the stands yesterday as Pakistan host Australia in the UAE. Credit:AP

The deadly terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan side in Lahore in 2009, when multiple gunmen fired on the team bus, deterred international teams from touring Pakistan until 2017. However over the past two years international players have started to trickle back. Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Sri Lanka have all toured, while overseas players, including Australians, have featured in the Pakistan Super League and ICC World XI games.

Australia are scheduled to play five one-day internationals away to Pakistan next March. The idea of that series being held on Pakistani soil looks ambitious, although not impossible, but in any case Pakistan are keen for Australia, England and New Zealand to return as soon as possible.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani spoke to incoming Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts during Roberts’ visit to the UAE for the current Pakistan-Australia Test series, briefly raising the prospect of Australia touring.

Mani insisted it would be safe for Australia to visit.

“Obviously they rely on the High Commission's advice, but a lot of it is a matter of perception. I am yet to meet people who, once they’ve been to Pakistan, have any concerns about going there,” Mani said.

Security was tight before the final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League in Lahore.

Security was tight before the final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League in Lahore.Credit:

“It will certainly happen sooner or later. It’s a matter of comfort levels. We are getting PSL matches played in Pakistan, foreign players are coming for that. We’ve had a couple of other teams come and play, but I really want Australia, New Zealand, England to come.”

The Australian government’s official advice is for Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Pakistan, with several troublesome areas absolute no-go zones.

However Mani said the dangerous spots in Pakistan were far removed from where any cricket would be played.

“One thing we need to explain to Cricket Australia properly is that where we are planning to host the matches is away from troubled areas. For example the matches will be in Sydney and the volatile areas are in the Northern Territory, so we need to make sure that is understood.”

Australia cancelled a tour to Bangladesh in 2015 but ventured there for two Tests last year, employing an intense security bubble to protect the team, as well as touring media.

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