Karachi: Pakistan’s national T20 captain Shahid Afridi has called on India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to form a strong Asian bloc to prevent the culture of other teams not touring the region on security grounds.
The experienced allrounder who has appeared in 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 84 T20 matches expressed disappointment at the decision by the Australian cricket board to not tour Bangladesh.
“I don’t think this is a good thing happening for Asian cricket. While security is important for everyone but tours should not be cancelled just because of some fears or rumours,” he said.
“More so when the home board and government is willing to give all security guarantees and assurances to touring sides,” he noted.
Afridi said that Pakistan cricket had already suffered a lot because of teams not touring since last six years.
“We know how it feels to be isolated as an international cricket venue. But what has happened now with Bangladesh is also worrying and the cricket boards of Asia must take notice,” he said.
Afridi said that India being a world leader in cricket must take initiative and ensure that along with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh there is a strong bloc representing Asian cricket internationally.
“Asian Test playing nations must form a strong group so that other teams also think hard before calling off tours,” he said.
No Test team except Zimbabwe has toured Pakistan since March 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
Afridi termed the tour by the Bangladesh women’s team to Pakistan as a very positive development and hoped the Bangladesh men’s team would follow soon. (PTI)
