England last played in Pakistan in 2005 and were due to visit last year, but were canceled at short notice after the tour of New Zealand pulled out citing security concerns.
England last played in Pakistan in 2005 and were due to visit last year, but were canceled at short notice after the tour of New Zealand pulled out citing security concerns.
England’s “excited” cricket team arrived in Karachi on Thursday for their first tour of Pakistan in 17 years, a long absence due to security fears.
England last played in Pakistan in 2005 and were due to visit last year, but were canceled at short notice after pulling out of the tour of New Zealand, citing security concerns.
The move angered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which called it “outrageous” and was desperate to show that the country was safe again after the deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009.
The 19-man England team, captained by Jos Buttler, will play seven Twenty20 matches against Pakistan in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 to October 2. Get ready for next month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
“We are excited to be here, this is my first experience in Pakistan,” Butler said.
“Some players who have participated in the Pakistan Super League have shared positive things about Pakistan and how much the public loves the game.”
Following an attack by Islamist terrorists on a Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, Pakistan was forced to play international matches at neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates, where they hosted England in 2012 and 2015.
International cricket has slowly returned to Pakistan over the past five years and earlier this year Australia toured successfully for the first time in nearly a quarter century.
tight security
Police officers guard a vehicle carrying the England cricket team on their way to the hotel upon arrival in Karachi, Pakistan. , photo credit: AP
The PCB said the Australia series “demonstrated our event-planning and handling skills” and expressed confidence that England’s games would also end safely.
On match days, the roads between the England team hotel and Karachi’s National Stadium will be closed and subjected to armed guards.
A helicopter will monitor their journey and shops and offices in front of the stadium will be ordered to be closed.
The last time England visited Pakistan the government was waging a desperate battle with Islamist militants, including its home chapter of the Taliban.
The security situation has improved significantly since then, but attacks have increased since then. Taliban return to power in neighboring Afghanistan,
In March, an Islamic State Suicide bomber attacks minority Shia mosque In the northwestern city of Peshawar, 64 people were killed in the deadliest terror attack since 2018.
Much of the violence is confined to the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have long been a hotbed of insurgency.
However, recently Karachi and Lahore have been targeted by Baloch separatist militants. Four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed in Karachi in April.
excitement
comes as a tour Pakistan is also grappling with devastating floods It has left nearly a third of the country under water and affected at least 33 million people.
Last month the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said the team was “desperate” to play in Pakistan despite the humanitarian disaster.
Men’s cricket managing director Rob Key said: “I think hopefully we’re going to be out there and playing is a very painful time for the people of that country.”
England will return in December to play three five-day Test matches.
“I am very excited and looking forward to seeing England and Butler in Pakistan,” said Masoom Rizvi, an electrician.