After Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid also wants international cricket back in Pakistan

His England team-mate Moeen Ali has said the same recently. And now, spinner Adil Rashid has supported the return of international games to Pakistan as something “absolutely crucial”. Moeen also said that the world cricket requires the game to head back to the Asian country that remained sidelined for over a decade since the terror attack against the Sri Lankan national team in Lahore in March 2009.

Very few countries went to Pakistan to play international matches and there was no Test series during this period. Pakistan played their home Tests at venues in the UAE. Next month, Test cricket is set to make a comeback to Pakistan as the Lankans will be going there for a two-game series. The islanders recently had a successful visit to Pakistan where they played an ODI and T20I series.

Rashid, who like Moeen is also of Pakistani descent, said Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking the necessary steps to ensure that international cricket comes back to Pakistan. He also welcomed the fact that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 will be entirely held in Pakistan and not in the UAE. The 31-year-old, who is just one match short of playing 100 ODIs, is in the platinum category of the next PSL players’ draft that will take place in Lahore on December 6.

Adil Rashid hopes that England, South Africa and Australia tour Pakistan

“Having international games in Pakistan is absolutely crucial for the game and I am very happy that this is happening and am also glad to see that Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking active steps for this to become a reality,” Rashid was quoted as saying by Wisden. “I also know that the next edition of the Pakistan Super League will completely take place in Pakistan which is very good news and this is what the country needs to give the passion and the fantastic history of the game there.

Rashid then went to express the hope that top teams like England, South Africa and Australia will tour Pakistan to play games across all formats, helping both Pakistan and cricket gain from it.

Top officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board visited Pakistan to see the security arrangements when the Sri Lankans were touring to prepare the grounds for a possible tour of the Three Lions in a few years.

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