Misbah-ul-Haq fears Pakistan's youth is losing the passion for cricket

Former Pakistan skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq is one of the finest cricketers the country’s ever produced. Blessed with grace and flair, his umpteen memorable knocks serve as a testament to the love and the passion he had for the sport. However, the right-hander revealed that he had a latent fear that passion for cricket was dying in his country as the youth is no longer attracted to the sport.

Turning back the clock, international cricket in Pakistan had come to a standstill after anti-social elements attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka cricketers to the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in March 2009. Several international teams subsequently refused to tour the country thereafter and Pakistan had to shift their base to the UAE and have been playing all their home cricket matches there for the past eight years.

Following the incident, Zimbabwe toured the country in 2015 but was struck with a similar fate as they were left scarred by a bomb blast merely 800 meters from the Gaddafi Stadium.

Misbah feels Pakistan should focus on reviving Test cricket

The swashbuckling right-hander is confident that Pakistan will host more international sides in the near future. The 43-year-old also said Pakistan should focus on reviving Test cricket on home soil, as the ‘ultimate’ format of the game would help produce cricketers for the future.

Speaking to the media, how the absence of the sport has taken a toll on the youth, Misbah said, “In the last couple of years, passion in Pakistan cricket was dying. Youngsters were playing cricket and trying to become international cricketers. I think once international cricket is here, you are just watching every game and Test matches with top stars in the world, live… that is something which obviously attracts youngsters to start thinking about cricket again.”

Now, after the successful culmination of the series against World XI, Pakistan could see the return of Test cricket on home soil eventually, encouraging youngsters to start thinking about making a career in cricket. The Independence Cup concluded on Friday, with Pakistan clinching the series 2-1.

Pakistan is now set to play a ‘home’ series against Sri Lanka which will be played in the UAE. The final game of that series, a T20I fixture is slated to be played in Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also trying to organize their bilateral series against West Indies on home soil.