Hoping Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan: Zaheer Abbas

LAHORE: Zaheer Abbas, the ICC president, has said that he will try and convince other member countries to resume tours to Pakistan and is hopeful Sri Lanka will also tour the country.
Pakistan did not host any international cricket between 2009 and 2015, after Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in March 2009. The country’s six-year isolation ended when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan in May for two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs.
“The time will come when our neighbours will come. I am hoping especially that Sri Lanka should come,” Abbas said. “We’ve been very close to each other in every department. If a gesture comes from them I will be very happy.
“Openly I can’t but by talking and trying to convince the ICC members maybe. Obviously everybody is there to listen to you. If I am speaking to them as a cricketer they will.
“Zimbabwe coming is a good change but why is it that Pakistan is the only country where international cricket is not being played? Take an example of Sri Lanka — when they were going through a bad time we used to come and play here.
“You should not try to let cricket die in Pakistan, it will be of no use. Our job is to spread cricket all over the world. That’s why we have new members and we always encourage them.”
Abbas, the third cricketer after Colin Cowdrey and Clyde Walcott to hold the post of ICC president, was in Sri Lanka at invitation of Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny. He watched Pakistan seal the ODI series 3-1 in the fourth ODI and was impressed with the improvement in Pakistan’s energy levels and fielding.
“I am really happy to see the way they are fielding and their energy on the field. This is because of youngsters who have come in and are trying to prove themselves,” he said.