Pakistan's inability to play India in bilateral events has cost them a lot: Michael Atherton

Former England cricketer Michael Atherton has shown sympathy towards Pakistan amidst the recent tour cancellations from England and New Zealand. Since the attack of Sri Lanka’s bus in 2009, they could not host teams in Pakistan for the better part of the 2010’s decade. Cricket started to return regularly to the country only around 2019 with the PSL playoffs also being played while Sri Lanka became the first team to travel Pakistan for whole tour.

During this period, Pakistan could never play against India in a bilateral series due to the ever-rising political tensions between the two countries. Last time the two sides faced each other in a series was in 2012 when Pakistan toured India for 3 ODIs and a couple of T20 Internationals. For the same reason, Atherton has sympathised with Pakistan as they have lost a lot of money over the past decade.

“Pakistan’s inability to play India in bilateral events has cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in the past decade, or how being in exile in the UAE for nearly a decade cost significant amounts of financial and psychological capital,” he wrote in his column for The Times.

Pakistan have played most number of matches away from home during pandemic

Michael Atherton also noted that Pakistan has toured a lot of countries since the pandemic has begun but in return haven’t been lucky enough to play hosts. The Men in Green toured England twice, apart from travelling to West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand . In return, they were set for a huge 2021-22 season of cricket at home with England, New Zealand, Australia, and West Indies touring.

However, the Kiwis backing off at the last minute and England also refusing has made things worse for them. Australia are already reconsidering their decision while West Indies is also taking stock of the situation now.

“When England have pulled out of tours to South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and when Australia have played no Test matches away from home since the pandemic began, Pakistan have travelled all over the world (and, remember, there are no touring fees paid to the visitors these days). Pakistan have played the most number of matches away from home since Covid struck, by some distance,” Atherton further wrote.