Misbah-ul-Haq hopes England reciprocate gesture and commit to touring Pakistan

Pakistan will play three Tests and three T20is in England later this summer despite health concerns due to Covid-19

Misbah-ul-Haq (Getty)

Misbah-ul-Haq hopes England will reciprocate Pakistan’s gesture of touring this summer by playing cricket in Pakistan for the first time since 2005.

Following the Lahore terror attacks in 2009 which saw a visiting Sri Lanka side targeted, international cricket in the region has been sparse. With teams unwilling to tour on safety grounds, the UAE became Pakistan’s adopted home. And while cricket has returned through series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the Pakistan Super League, others remain reluctant to tour.

However, England now find themselves on the other side of that coin given the dramatic effect the coronavirus pandemic has had in the country, which has had almost 300,000 cases of Covid-19, the fourth most in the world, and over 40,000 deaths, the third most in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.

But despite these associated risks, with the UK government confirming more than 1,500 new lab-confirmed cases on Friday alone, the West Indies arrived in the week for three Test matches behind closed doors. While Pakistan announced their squad for three Tests and three T20is later this summer on Friday.

Not only will this include playing behind closed doors, but also a period in quarantine and having to stay within the confines of a bio secure bubble. The West Indies are currently experiencing this at Old Trafford, one of the three grounds deemed fit for ensuring safety this summer, along with the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston, which Pakistan will use as their training base.

The matches will go some way to filling a £280 million hold in the pockets of the ECB, who will lose £100m regardless of how much of their schedule is salvaged through the fulfilment of this summer’s broadcasting rights. It seems only right, therefore, that given the improvements around security in Pakistan that England make a big show of gratitude by returning.

Misbah-ul-Haq watches on as Yasir Shah bowls in practice (AFP)

“At the moment, we are thinking, PCB is just thinking about the re-start of international cricket,” says Misbah, now Pakistan’s head coach after 16 years as a player and seven as captain. “That is very important to us. It is not in our minds that we are coming and keeping in view something that the ECB has to do for us in return.

“Obviously, in a bigger picture, we are not expecting anything in return but overall, 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.”

Indeed another “shoe on the other foot” moment comes in Tests taking place in England without fans. Misbah’s side are all too familiar with this during their time in the UAE, hence why a permanent return home is craved.

Nevertheless, he appreciates these are unique times.

“It’s always good to play in front of a crowd. You miss that atmosphere when there is no one. Nobody understands it better than us because we played much more cricket that any other team in the world with empty stadiums in the UAE.

“Sometimes it’s really difficult for the players to motivate themselves. Obviously in a bigger picture, if we want to resume international cricket, we have to start it from somewhere. Health and safety of every human is more important and this is how we how to proceed at the moment. And see in the future, hopefully we can get rid of these situations and spectators just get back on the cricket fields.”

Along with Pakistan’s 29, there will be four players on standby should any of the original party fail the coronavirus screening process before they are due to travel to the UK later this month.

Two of their more experienced players, left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir and top-order batsman Haris Sohail have opted not to tour. However only Sohail, with 75 Test caps under his belt has done so on the grounds of safety – Amir is choosing to be by his wife’s side for the birth of their second child.

Misbah revealed Haris was not the only player with doubts over touring and fully respects the 31 year-old’s decision. From a performance point of view, Pakistan will be poorer for his absence given he averages 40 in England, with a century at Lord’s back in 2016.

“On Haris, it was purely all about his family concerns. It wasn’t mainly Haris. It was Haris’s family, they were having concerns so that’s why they were not convinced. That’s why he has to respect the family’s decision and he pulled out of this series.

Haris Sohail will not tour in England due to health concerns (AFP)

“Except Haris, the others are fine. They are ready to tour England, they are satisfied with the SOPs (standard operating procedures) and everything, and they know that West Indies are going to play. They are getting the information from England. Most of them have relatives and friends there, the situation is improving and they are much more satisfied with that and they are ready to do it. There are no concerns.”

The team are expected to arrive at the end of June on a flight chartered by the ECB. The series is due to begin at Old Trafford on 5 August, with the final two Tests at the Ageas Bowl, followed by the T20is.

Misbah also made sure to wish his former teammate Shahid Afridi well. Afridi revealed on Twitter that he had contracted coronavirus, stating: “I’ve been feeling unwell since Thursday; my body had been aching badly. I’ve been tested and unfortunately I’m Covid positive. Need prayers for a speedy recovery.”

“First about Shahid I think my prayers are with him, all well wishes with him that he gets out of this soon. I think he was doing a lot of work in the area of Balochistan and the northern areas just to help the people. Throughout the Covid situation he was helping the poor, doing a very good job. I’m sending well wishes with him to get well soon.”