'A massive advertisement for our sport' - PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja expresses gratitude after Australia series

Australia signed off their bilateral tour of Pakistan with a three-wicket win in the one-off T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on April 5. The all-format series saw the Aussies winning the three-match Test series 1-0 and then draw first blood in the opening ODI before the hosts staged a remarkable comeback to win the next two matches.

The smooth conduct of the bilateral series has impressed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja and he has also come forward and acknowledged both sides for playing good cricket. At the same time, he also gave a special mention to Cricket Australia (CA) for ensuring that the tour went on successfully due to their active co-operation.

I am confident the Australian players and officials will take home fond memories, Ramiz Raja

“The three-Test series was combative and engrossing going into the last hour of the 15^th day to find a winner, while white-ball cricket confirmed the high billing and calibre of both the sides. The camaraderie and respect demonstrated by the two sides during high-pressure cricket were exemplary and a massive advertisement for our sport,” said Raja in a press release issued by the PCB.

“After witnessing and experiencing firsthand what this great country has to offer, I am confident the Australia players and officials will take home fond memories and become bigger advocates and goodwill ambassadors for Pakistan than before”, he added.

“I would like to place on record my heartfelt thanks to Cricket Australia who made this series possible by sending their best available players, as well as the PCB staff who delivered an outstanding and flawless series at the backend of HBL PSL 7″, the 1992 World Cup winner said.

It was indeed a disaster for Pakistan and its cricket after New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as well as the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had refused to play a bilateral series in Pakistan last year citing security threats and bio-bubble fatigue reasons respectively.

Prior to this highly-anticipated series, the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) also was entirely held in Pakistan across two venues- Karachi and Lahore.