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Shahid Hashmi

  • PSL final a great occasion for Pakistan, says Wasim Akram

    PSL final a great occasion for Pakistan, says Wasim Akram

    LAHORE: Wasim Akram has described the final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore on Sunday as “a great occasion” for the country and scores of cricket fans, expressing hope that it will be staged without any hitches and paves the way for more cricket in Pakistan in the future.

    Akram, the cricket director for Islamabad United and a brand ambassador of the PSL, shifted to the commentary box after his team lost to Karachi Kings in the second qualifying final on Wednesday.

    Danny Morrison, Mel Jones and Alan Wilkins, who commentated on the PSL till the last game – the third qualifying final between Karachi and Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai on Friday – all refused to travel to Lahore citing security concerns, while Ian Bishop has flown home to be a part of the commentary team for the West Indies and England series.

    “The PSL final in Lahore is a great occasion for Pakistan as well as for the millions of fans in the country, who have been deprived of watching their players for some time now,” Akram, who will be returning to Gaddafi Stadium after a long gap, told media.

    “I am myself going to Gaddafi Stadium after ten years so it’s a great occasion and we all hope and pray that it happens successfully because a lot depends on this match. Our future in cricket also depends on this.”

    Peshawar, who beat Karachi to qualify for the final, have the edge against Quetta Gladiators in the title round, felt Akram.

    “Zalmi will have some advantage because of their foreign players, while Quetta’s top foreign players are no more with them. But Twenty20 is different and if you play well you carry the day, so no team is favourite,” he said, adding that he was impressed by Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

    “I like Sarfraz’s aggressive style and since he is also Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 captain, that is an added advantage for him.”

    Quetta, who lost to Islamabad in the final last year, are going to be without Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills and Rilee Rossouw, who have been replaced by Anamul Haque, Sean Ervine, Elton Chigumbura and Morne van Wyk.

  • Gayle thanks fans for return to form

    Gayle thanks fans for return to form

    The unusually cool temperatures and a bit of rustiness was keeping him from firing at his best till the other day, joked Chris Gayle after a typically belligerent 17-ball 44 helped his Karachi Kings beat Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday.

    Gayle’s knock, laced with two fours and five sixes, took Karachi past the 124-run target in the rain-cropped match and into the second qualifier in Sharjah on Wednesday, where they will meet Islamabad again.

    Asked why he was well below his best before the Sunday hitout, Gayle laughed, “Because of the weather. It’s very cold … didn’t get any sunshine. That’s the reason.”

    Turning serious, he went on, “I am just kidding. I wasn’t playing much cricket, so definitely rusty and was travelling and haven’t been practicing, so it showed in the middle. But I am a professional and I am not going to find any excuse.

    “I did find some time to practise here for the PSL, but it takes a bit of time. You definitely take some time to get back into the groove. Once you get back into the situation things start to flow again. Cricket is like that you always need time to succeed.”

    Gayle managed just 59 runs in the first six games of the ongoing season of the PSL before being dropped for the game against Lahore Qalandars on Saturday.

    He admitted to copping a fair bit of flak from the fans as well. “I was getting a lot of stick from the fans when I was not performing, but I am really happy that I did it for them,” said Gayle. “It was so important. People were shouting ‘Chris Gayle, Chris Gayle’ and then the stands erupted and everybody was cheering me and that gave me some boost as well.

    “That’s where I got some momentum. So I thank the fans for sticking with me. I am glad that I have given them some thing to cheer and, hopefully – Inshallah – it will happen again.”

    Gayle said Kumar Sangakkara, the Karachi captain, had asked him to play the way he wanted to. “It’s always a pressure game. I had missed out on the last game but we did well to win the game. Always a pressure game, knowing that you need a certain target to qualify,” he pointed out. “It was a rain-shortened game as well, so the captain came to me and let me know that we need to win this particular game to qualify so ‘you can play your game’.

    “They (Sangakkara and Mickey Arthur, the coach) are very supportive for not only me but also for every other player who matters in the team. Once, on a particular day, your matchwinners can win a game, like (Kieron) Pollard did in the last game,” added Gayle of the allrounder who hit two sixes off the last two balls to give Karachi victory over Lahore.

    And then he was back joking when asked whether he would be willing to travel to Lahore for the March 5 final of the PSL: “Well, if you take me, I will come with you. Invite me, man. Now you invite me and then you may see me.”

  • Will there be another Shahid Afridi?

    Will there be another Shahid Afridi?

    Will there be another Shahid Afridi? No, may be not like him.

    He enthralled the fans around the world like very few did. He would hit a six just for fun and fans.

    If fan following was a yardstick of greatness in cricket, Afridi would have topped the charts. Always. The manner in which people come to watch a glimpse of his batting was unheard of. Once he gets out, they leave the stadiums as if there was nothing else to watch.

    His rise was as sudden as it was stupendous. As a 16-year-old boy he was with Pakistan Under-19 team touring the West Indies — a visit marred by charges of rape on one of his team-mates Zeeshan Pervez. Just when the police was investigating who else were involved the team manager Haroon Rasheed got a SOS to send a leg-spinner to the other corner of the world Kenya.

    Read More: WATCH: Shahid Afridi amazes all with match-winning performance in BPL

    Pakistan, playing a tri-series involving the hosts and Sri Lanka, were hit by injury to Mushtaq Ahmed. Came Afridi, played and conquered. Then captain Saeed Anwar watched him hit the ball so powerfully in the nets that he decided to use him as opener. A 37-ball century followed with 11 powerful sixes, against then world champions Sri Lanka.

    Greatness was destiny for Afridi as he played that innings with maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s bat, presented to another great Waqar Younis.

    Naturally, Afridi became an instant hit, more so with his native Pathans who just know one way to live: attack. The desire to see him bash the bowlers to all corners was never ending. The crowd in Peshawar — the land of Pathans — created a scene when little known Everton Matambanadzo dismissed Afridi off the first ball, shouting: “Try ball, let Afridi bat again!”

    Girls swooned for a glimpse of him and many wanted to marry him. In 2004 two women came in bridal dress to a ground and were only convinced to leave after meeting him face to face.

    It was always fun watching for fans, albeit reckless for his coaches or captains. He would never held himself back, evident from his 351 sixes — the most by any batsman in one-day cricket.

    His hit-all style was copied in every street, every ground and every backyard in Pakistan. Afridi’s superstardom on the field made him the face of Pakistan off it, and his likeness is plastered across billboards and TV ads everywhere in the country.

    With his unmatched popularity Afridi became a product. He advertises everything from shampoo, banking and skin cream to chewing gum, with a ubiquity surpassed perhaps only by Tendulkar and, may be now by Virat Kohli, in India.

    Read More: WATCH: Lord’s pays tribute to Shahid Afridi with this video

    The most striking aspect of his batting was that he played his way, never daunted by opposition, bowlers or by the pitch. Former captain and one of his early days team-mates Ramiz Raja recalled one incident. “When I went to bat in an international match I asked him about the pitch and his reply was typical.

    “I don’t know about the pitch, its enjoyable. The ball is coming onto the bat very well, you will also enjoy,” was Afridi’s reply.

    Although a quality leg-spinner, Afridi will not be remembered as a bowler. His 395 one-day and 97 in Twenty20 (most in the shortest format). Nobody would have bought a ticket if told that Afridi will only bowl in the match.

    Just like his batting, Afridi’s style in press conferences was mostly hard hitting. At the fag end of his career, as he struggled to score runs and take wickets in Twenty20 cricket last year, part of Pakistani media was having a got at him. So when a reporter asked him “how he could justify his place,” Afridi retorted, “its a filthy question, next.”

    He ruffled many a feather by saying “I get more love in India than in Pakistan,” before the World Twenty20 started in India last year, but that simply came from the heart as he had been one of few Pakistanis who was loved across the border.

    His aggressive style had also resulted in a number of bans which forced him to miss some crucial matches, significantly the first two in 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. Incessed at a fan after walking to the dressing room at Centurion, Afridi threatened to hit him with his bat. He was handed a four-match ban, last two in South Africa and the first two in the World Cup.

    Two years earlier he shocked everyone by trying to damage the pitch during the Faisalabad Test against England. It resulted in one Test and two ODI bans.

    But the worst of them all was a blatant attempt to chew the ball to alter its condition during the Perth ODI in Australia in 2010. A ban of two Twenty20 ensued.

    But all said and done, Afridi has been a star, a crowd puller who graced cricket field in a way very few could boast off. He will surely be missed. His popularity and aggressive style will demand him to join politics.

    He will, one day and change the fate of his country.

  • PSL 2017: Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars in nail-biting thriller

    PSL 2017: Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars in nail-biting thriller

    DUBAI: Teenager Hassaam Khan, veteran Zulfiqar Babar and youngster Mohammad Nawaz shared six wickets between them as Quetta Gladiators shocked Lahore Qalanders in a sensational eight-run win on the second day of the Pakistan Super League match in Dubai on Friday.

    On a day marrred by the provisional suspension of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif on charges of spot fixing, the field was lit by a fighting Quetta unit, so inspired from the high-five by West Indian great Viv Richards from the dug-out, fought tooth and nail.

    Khan (2-10), Nawaz (2-19) and Babar (2-31) took wickets at regular intervals to pull off the much needed win.

    Defending a low total of 136, Quetta ran into a bashing Jason Roy who hit out from the outset.

    Roy was sparkling right from the start as he reverse swept, drove and hoisted every ball with disdain. Roy smashed the second ball from veteran spinner Zulfiqar Babar for four and then lifted him over mid-on for a six. Next over he smashed three boundaries off compatriot Tymal Mills before being disguised by Babar.

    Lahore Qalandars started their innings and made 33 for the loss of 1 wicket. Quetta Gladiators’ Zulfiqar Babar removed Jason Roy.

    But Babar has the last laugh when he bowled the England opener in the thid over. Roy hit five boundaries and a six in his 14-ball knock. Brendon McCullum also two fours and a six in his 11-ball 20 but none of the Lahore batsmen could stay for long, trying to win the match in a whisker.

     

    Lahore’s main hope Umar Akmal fell for four-ball nought. Sunil Narine used his long handle to effectt with three sixes in his 26 but Tymal Mills dismissed him to give a sniff of victory.

    Hassaan rapped up the match with Yasir Shah’s wicket as all the support staff with Ricchards in lead ran into the ground to celebrate an unlikely win.

     

    Quetta erred in their selection as they included all their three allrounders in Thissera Perera, Anwar Ali and Mohammad Nawaz, leaving out the experienced Luke Wright which left them to open the innings with Asad Shafiq. They never got the ideal going with wickets tumbling at regular interval.

    Ahmed Shahzad (five) and Kevin Pietersen (three off seven balls) were the real casualties. Shafiq scored a snail paced 28-ball 29 but the real savious was Rossouw who hit two sixes and three boundaries to give some respectability to the total.

    Emerging players Hasan Khan briefly threatened to score big with a six and a four but in the end Quetta managed a below-par total.

    Mohammad Irfan Junior, Aqib’s find who he described as the “would be bowler of the PSL”, impressed with his wrong-footed action, claiming 3-26.

  • Pakistan want IPL-like success from PSL

    Pakistan want IPL-like success from PSL

    DUBAI: A lot is at stake when the Pakistan Super League (PSL) gets underway on Thursday (February 9) in Dubai.

    The Twenty20 extravaganza has been modeled on the successful Indian Premier League (IPL), and in many ways, Pakistan are hoping for similar benefits like India in terms of talents, especially for the shorter formats.

    India have gained a lot from the IPL bonanza in terms of players who are able adjust to the modern-day limited-overs formats quicker than most others. India have managed to unearth a number of short-form players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal. There are others like Karun Nair who shone in IPL, but struck gold with a triple-hundred against England in the recent concluded Test series after having already established himself as a long-format player in domestic cricket.

    It is this ability that Pakistan are hoping their young talents also achieve through the PSL

    Pakistan have had a tumultuous time in the shorter formats, especially in One-Day International cricket, and have slid to eighth in the world rankings. The slide is so drastic that Pakistan may not be assured of automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup, and may well have to take the qualifier route. Recent 1-4 ODI series losses in England and Australia highlighted the weakness in power-hitting, death-overs bowling and more importantly, fielding.

    Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain, believes the PSL can certainly bridge the gap for Pakistan’s limited-overs sides in time.

    “The IPL is massive, you can’t compare it with our league,” Akram, who has been involved with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL as a bowling coach, told Wisden India. “The first edition (of PSL) did throw up some hidden talent, so I expect good results in the years to come. The initial problems in setting off were overcome last year, so I hope for better things this year.” Akram had mentored Islamabad United to the PSL title in the inaugural edition in 2016.

    Rashid Latif, another former Pakistan skipper, is also hoping for more talent to stand out this year. “I think the real talent comes from first-class cricket,” he said. “But PSL is the stage where you groom your talent just like the IPL has done. So it is for the talented players to grab their chances, perform and then hopefully play for Pakistan.”

    The PSL has had a chequered past, with a number of false starts. Originally meant to be launched in 2013, the tournament failed to take off then owing to logistical issues and then again in 2014 over lack of sponsorship.

    But these issues have been a common feature in Twenty20 leagues across the world. The IPL and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) have been hit by spot-fixing scandals. In fact, the BPL also faced charges of delay in players’ payments and could not be held in 2013. The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) has not been staged after the first edition in 2012.

    These examples did create doubts about the viability of the PSL, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), under league chairman Najam Sethi, has stood steadfast and pulled off their dream project. The first event in February-March 2016 netted PCB a profit of US $2.6 million ($2 million paid to franchises) and more importantly, the players were paid before time.

    “The event was a success beyond expectations,” said Sethi. “We are ready to improve on that and have earmarked a profit of $3 million from the second edition. More importantly, we are hoping to develop some of our younger players.”

    The five franchises — Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators — have more muscle this time and each has a strong claim to the title.

    Brendon McCullum, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Kumar Sangakkara, relatively recently retired international stars, provide valuable experience to their respective sides.

    Then, there is the Caribbean flavour led by their two-time World T20-winning captain, Darren Sammy. The West Indies contingent is made up of explosive players like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels, the man of the final in both the 2012 and 2016 World T20s. Add a bit of mystery in the form of Sunil Narine, and you have a heady mix for this edition of the PSL.

    The English contingent also has some interesting players with the maverick Kevin Pietersen leading the way with Eoin Morgan, the current limited-overs captain, opener Jason Roy, Luke Wright, the allrounder, and the rapid Tymal Mills providing the fireworks.

    The one wish PCB have for this year’s PSL is to stage the March 5 final in Lahore. They hope an improved security set-up will convince the foreign players to shun their fears and travel to Pakistan – a no-go area for overseas teams since the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009.

    Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, is hoping to buck the trend this year. “We see our dreams in PSL,” asserted Shaharyar. “It is our main hope to not only revive our teams’ standards, but also for it become a gateway for the return of international cricket to our country.”

  • Azhar’s injury hands Hafeez Pakistan captaincy in 2nd ODI

    Azhar’s injury hands Hafeez Pakistan captaincy in 2nd ODI

    MELBOURNE: In a twist of fate Mohammad Hafeez, not included in the original 15-man squad, will lead Pakistan in the second day-night international against Australia at MCG on Sunday.

    Azhar led Pakistan in the first day-nighter at the Gabba in Brisbane which Australia won by 92 runs and while batting the Pakistan one-day captain pulled up a hamstring. After scans it was revealed Azhar will not be able to play the match on Sunday and will remain to be assessed for Thursday’s third match in Perth.

    After Friday’s game Mickey Arthur was asked who will lead the team in case Azhar is ruled out and the  Pakistan coach was speechless, saying: “its a good question but I don’t have the answer.”

    Pakistan’s one-day vice captain Sarfraz Ahmed had returned home following his mother’s serious condition while another candidate Shoaib Malik, who could have taken over, is still nursing fever and sore throat and will be assessed before the match.

    The name of Imad Wasim was also considered but the PCB management deemed it would be too early for the youngster although he had led Pakistan Under-19 and domestic teams.

    Pakistan’s problems also grew when lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan also returned home following his mother’s death and was replaced by Junaid Khan.

    Hafeez said he will do his best to address Pakistan’s defeats.

    “It’s sad what happened to Azhar,” Hafeez said from Melbourne. “Almighty has given me this opportunity so I will do my best to win the match on Sunday.”

  • West Indies refuses to tour Pakistan for T20Is

    West Indies refuses to tour Pakistan for T20Is

    LAHORE: Pakistan’s efforts to host the West Indies for a short Twenty20 trip failed after the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) turned down the request citing players’ refusal over security fears.

    Sources in the WICB say a letter to reject Pakistan’s proposal has already been sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    WICB also made it clear that it will not send any security delegation as it would be a waste of time and money after players’ refusal to visit Pakistan.

    Apparently a tussle between the PCB and FICA (Federation of International cricketers Association) in the last two days put paid to the efforts.

    “FICA had strongly opposed the tour but when PCB rejected their report and called them negative, the association once again stressed that the players should not go to Pakistan,” sources say

    Read More: Pakistan to play full series in West Indies from March 31

    It is pertinent to note here that Pakistan has not hosted any international team except for Zimbabwe since the March 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

    Read More: West Indies ready to play cricket in Pakistan: Najam Sethi

    West Indies are the third team – after Ireland and Sri Lanka – to reject travelling to Pakistan in the last two years.

  • Misbah should take some blame for defeat in Australia, says Waqar Younis

    Misbah should take some blame for defeat in Australia, says Waqar Younis

    Former head coach Waqar Younis was an eye witness to Pakistan’s 3-0 whitewash in a Test series in Australia and like many experts, analysts and wise fans Waqar too was disappointed with the capitulation.

    Here is how he responded to ARYNews questions on Pakistan’s fourth consecutive whitewash in Tests in Australia.

    Q: A lot of people had expected a better show from Pakistan as the Australian team they confronted this time weren’tt as strong as before. Are you overtly disappointed with the 3-0 bashing?

    Waqar: Yes, not many people had expected this 3-0 result. We all were thinking that this Pakistan team is experienced, their batting is better and bowling was in good form. But unfortunately results are in not their favour. They committed a lot of mistakes and it seemed that the team did not play with unity.

    We had played well in England for a 2-2 series draw and then were okay against the West Indies but our players did not live up to expectations reposed in them.

    The most disappointing aspect was fielding, we dropped too many catches and when catches are dropped leaving bowlers disheartened.

    Yasir Shah was the focus of attention but he couldn’t take wickets which were expected of him nor he could stop the flow of runs from the Australian batsmen and that let the team down badly. In my opinion our batting also did not show unity.

    We committed major mistakes.

    Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq did well in batting but the expectations from Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan were not met, they looked out of touch, Younis in the first two Tests and Misbah in the whole series.

    Q: When you were coach you always stressed that Misbah needs to be aggressive in his planning and strategy as captain. In this series Misbah was evidently out of sorts and his defensive tactics, viz a viz, a six three leg side field for Yasir brought severe criticism for him. Do you think Misbah should share the blame?

    Waqar:  Some part of the blame must also go to Misbah. The style of cricket you play in UAE is not suited to Australian conditions.

    Wickets in Australia are fast and bouncy so you have to change the style, so despite keeping defensive fields Misbah couldn’t stop the flow of runs. Misbah committed mistake by setting defensive fields and on top of that he was not performing and that added pressure.

    The fourth day of the Sydney Test gave a picture that its school cricket as Australians thrashed Pakistan bolwers. We committed many mistakes and it didn’t look like we were world number one Test teams a few months back. I never thought of such a performance.

    Q: Former Australian captain Ian Chappell bashed Pakistan by saying that from now on Australian Board should consider before inviting Pakistan. Was that too harsh or too true?

    Waqar: Ian Chappell is an experienced commentator and and a very senior analyst so he has hiw own opinion. Its not necessary that one should agree with his comment.

    A few months ago we were world number one in Tests . I accept that we failed to give good performance in Australia so Ian has his own opinion and I don’t want to comment on that

    Q: So this was fourth whitewash in succession and fifth overall if you take the 1972 whitewash as well. So how should we plan fo an Australian tour?

    Waqar:  Leave aside the future, we need to change our style of cricket and it should happen now, today. To win in away series even Australia and South Africa play differently.

    We won in England because of our bowlers so I am saying that for some time now to change the style of cricket, take more risk and only the we can get better results. If we play the style of 1970s or 80s then we cannot effect better results.

    Q: Now Tests are gone, format where we were expected to give better results. Now we have five one-day internationals where we are already feared to lose 5-0. Do you see any better result?

    Waqar:  I hope we don’t lose the ODIs 5-0. We played defensive cricket in the ODIs in England but after losing the first four one-days we played aggressive style in the last match where Shoaib Malik, Azhar Ali and Sarfraz batted very well.

    We won because we had no pressure and played with aggression so we need to play that real brand of cricket and reply Australia with aggression. That is the only way to beat Australia.

  • Ahmed Shahzad fined for ‘showing dissent’ over umpire’s decision

    Ahmed Shahzad fined for ‘showing dissent’ over umpire’s decision

    KARACHI: Pakistan’s enfant terrible Ahmed Shahzad has once again landed in hot waters as the discarded opener has been fined Rs. 20,000 for showing dissent after being given out in the National One-day Cup in Karachi on Monday.

    Shahzad reacted to umpire Rashid Riaz’s decision after he was given leg-before off his old team-mate Mohammad Hafeez in the match against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines at National stadium. Shahzad looked set for a hundred but had to depart on 71.

    Shahzad argued with the umpire that the ball was pitched outside leg as Hafeez was bowling round the wicket but the umpire did not relent.

    “Match referee Mohammad Anees has fined Shahzad Rs. 20,000 for showing dissent at umpire’s decision,” said sources.

    Later in the day Shahzad, leading Habib Bank, protested against the same umpire’s decision when he turned down a vociferous appeal of caught behind against Hafeez.

    Riaz ruled Hafeez not out despite the fact that the batsman removed his gloves and started to walk off before noticing the umpire’s decision. As umpire had declared him not out, Hafeez returned to the crease and from 33 went on to score a fifty.

    All Habib Bank players protested the decision and the match came to a halt for five minutes.

    Pakistan’s first-class and List A cricket matches are marred by poor umpiring and despite Pakistan Cricket Board repeatedly assuring it will lift umpiring standards but so far no improvement has been witnessed.

  • One captain suits our culture, says PCB chairman

    One captain suits our culture, says PCB chairman

    Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Wednesday that Misbah-ul-Haq will decide his future as captain even if the team loses badly.

    “We have requested Misbah to continue until 2018 and even if the result in Australia is not good the decision will be of Misbah’s,” said Shaharyar Khan, adding that if he leaves then the best option will be to have one captain for all formats as it suits our culture.

    “If he decides to leave then we have a few options like we can elevate vice captain Azhar Ali, Younis Khan can be one option but since he is not scoring runs he will be under pressure.”Sarfraz is one option as he has an aggressive style and our culture also suits one captain for all formats.” said Khan.

    Khan admitted Azhar Ali had lost confidence after a 4-1 one-day defeat in England.

    “Yes, I can share with you that a lot of people lost confidence in Azhar after that series, even Mickey Arthur’s vote was with Sarfaraz but after whitewashing West Indies Azhar has become stronger,” said Khan.

    When asked if PCB shows weakness in not replacing an unsuccessful captain, Khan said, “it is a matter of confidence and honouring them and not a matter of weakness by the PCB.”

    Khan said appointing captain will be his prerogative. “I will consult the selection committee especially the chief selector but the final decision will be mine.”

    Khan will be leaving for Colombo on Thursday to attend an Asian Cricket Council meeting but he doesn’t expect any top BCCI official to attend.

    “Since they have a big decision from Lodha Commission in the next few days I don’t expect any top official to come to Colombo,” said Khan, reiterating his stance that it’s still Pakistan’s turn to host India.”

    “We have that stance that India has to tour us first. There were slots made for Pakistan-India series in the MoU signed in 2014, and they have wasted one slot by not playing us in 2015, even after agreeing to a neutral venue other than UAE.”

    Khan said although the situation is not conducive for an Indo-Pak match but things can change quickly, and if they do then cricket will be one of the most popular things on the agenda.