Misbah-ul-Haq: Pakistan 'not expecting anything in return' for England tour

Misbah ul Haq bloated out the truth

Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's chief selector and head coach, has insisted that the PCB has not asked for a reciprocal tour as part of their agreement to play in England.

This is a shame

As being member of a cricket board, it was their responsibility to continue the return home tour of England to Pakistan, as it is still under confusion whether Pakistan be hosting England in Pakistan? As England last toured Pakistan in 2005 when Inzamam ul Haq was captaining Pakistan, and many players who were part of Pakistan team that time are now story of the past and except Hafeez and Malik, none of the players from that era are part of current Pakistan cricket team.

England have not toured Pakistan since 2005-06. Security concerns have seen subsequent series between the sides played in either the UK or the UAE though there were growing hopes, before the Covid-19 pandemic, that England would return to Pakistan in late 2022.

"It's important for cricket boards that cricket starts now," Misbah said. "That will raise revenue which will be reinvested in cricket. If we don't play, obviously, we will be in trouble.

"For the development of this game, international cricket has to take place. Otherwise it will be difficult for smaller and weaker cricket nations to go forward. It's important for bigger nations that cricket is revised now, too.

"It is not in our minds that the ECB has to do something for us in return for us coming. The most important thing is to re-start international cricket.

"Obviously, in the bigger picture, we want not just the ECB but all cricketing nations to help each other so this game can grow. It's important for the cricket fans in Pakistan and also for Pakistan cricket that countries start touring Pakistan. But we are not expecting anything in return for this tour."

By the time the series starts, England will have just played three Tests against West Indies and Pakistan will not have played competitively since March. Furthermore, Pakistan will not have the luxury of any official warm-up games - though they will play inter-squad matches - and have been obliged to cancel their training camp in Lahore due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the region.

But Misbah suggested that the month his squad will have in the UK before the series begins should provide adequate time to prepare.

"It is a little bit of a disadvantage," Misbah said. "But we believe in the resumption of cricket on the condition that the environment is safe and secure. That's why we did not hold a camp in Lahore. The situation was really getting worse there and we thought securing the players' health and safety was important. So we thought we should hold on and start in England where the [Covid-19] situation is getting better and better.

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