'Threat of security is slowly diminishing' - Darren Sammy on how players are comfortable travelling Pakistan now

Former West Indies allrounder Darren Sammy was one of several players who backed the resumption of cricket in Pakistan when a lot of teams were afraid to travel after a fatal bomb attack that took place in Lahore in the year 2009. Since then, Pakistan played all its matches in the UAE before Pakistan Super League (PSL) was staged successfully in Pakistan to bring happiness among the crowd.

In 2018 and 2019, only a few games were held in Pakistan to see if it was indeed safe for foreign players to come and play. Few of them turned their heads but Sammy was among the very few of the foreign players to travel to Pakistan.

Speaking with The Current on the same, Sammy revealed how PSL has once again revived cricket in Pakistan. The former West Indies captain also stated, how players feel confident of coming to Pakistan due to good security measures in place.

“I am not sure (West Indies will visit Pakistan next), I have not checked the calendar. But I think we were about to a year before last year. I think now the teams are coming. I remember us taking a small step in the PSL two and getting to the finals in Lahore. I think that was a small step in the right direction,” Sammy said.

Darren Sammy feels players are now more comfortable touring Pakistan

“Now Hashim Amla and I were having a conversation and I think Javed asked what is difference is between now and five years ago. I think the major difference coming to Pakistan now, four years ago players would be calling me and go ’Darren, I am going over there (Pakistan), do you think we should go?’ When West Indies coming the captain had to call me and go, ‘Man should I go on this tour?’ Now players are asking where they can play golf and questions like can we go to dinner in these or those places. The quote-unquote threat of security, that is slowly diminishing from people’s minds and I think that is what we want,” he concluded.

PSL six was slated to resume in Pakistan but due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now set to be played in Abu Dhabi.