Number one

It is indeed a monumental achievement that Misbah ul Haq’s team has attained the number one spot in ICC Test team rankings. What makes it even more commendable is that Pakistan has not played a single Test on its own soil for the last seven years. Considering this new, shining feather in our cap, the ICC should make sincere efforts to restore international cricket in Pakistan so that our raw talent can be groomed. Moreover, it has become all the more necessary to enable Pakistan to restore and revive its already flagging image amongst the comity of nations.

In this regard, four talented gentlemen of our country – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Zardari, former cricket captain and now politician Imran Khan and real-estate magnate Malik Riaz – can help us stage an international cricket series (Test, ODI or T-20) in either Karachi or Lahore by inviting any major team(s). In my humble opinion, the persons mentioned have the requisite PR skills, international image plus genuine resources to make this happen. They can jointly decide about various financial incentives plus other fringe benefits to be offered to foreign players just on the pattern of international Super Leagues. If the combined efforts of these four sons of the soil bear fruit, our country’s reputation can surely go north.

Umar M Makhdumi

Karachi

*****

This refers to the editorial, ‘Number one’ (August 24). The editorial has aptly declared the Pakistani cricket team’s top position in Test ranking as a ‘monumental achievement’. It has rightly been mentioned that militant attacks and spot-fixing scandals saw our team reach very ‘dark days’. The role of the phenomenal Misbah ul Haq along with Younas Khan and the rest of the team, who led Pakistan to fame and glory, is highly commendable.

At the same time, the editorial’s insinuation about the murky future of cricket in our country needs attention. Speaking realistically, we still lag far behind in the limited versions of the game. The people at the helm must take cognizance of the prevalent situation and make strenuous efforts to put affairs back on the right track. Still a lot of home work is required to maintain this prestigious position.

Muhammad Fayyaz

Mianwali