World XI tour will help in bringing back cricket to Pakistan feels Mickey Arthur

Pakistan cricket team head coach Mickey Arthur believes that the tour of the ICC world XI to the country will boost the motive of returning international cricket to the country. The cricket scenario in the country vanished after the horrific terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in the year of 2009. Since then, Pakistan has seen only a limited over series against Zimbabwe in 2015.

The World XI tour which is scheduled to take place in the month of September this year took a  huge blow after a blast in Lahore on Monday. 26 people were killed in the carnage which will now make the officials rethink about the World XI tour.

What Mickey Arthur had to say:

Mickey Arthur says that the ban on cricket in Pakistan is very severe. “The isolation is being very hard on Pakistan cricket,” Arthur told AFP.

“PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) is doing an unbelievable job in trying to resurrect international cricket. I just hope the World XI tour goes ahead and that will almost be the curtain raiser to, hopefully, get some international cricket back.” said Arthur.

Pakistan plays its home matches at the United Arab Emirates and Arthur says it’s a very difficult task for the team. “Every international match we play as a unit we are playing effectively away from home, away our own conditions and that makes it doubly difficult,” he said.

“Look, I definitely think it affects all cricket. The first class cricketers in Pakistan are not able to see their stars playing at home and are not able to lift their standards so it’s a vicious circle,” he added.

The head coach added that Pakistan’s historic triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy last month will people change their mind and will add as a push towards the motive.

“I think Pakistan was always a destination where it was hard to come and win. I was the coach of the South African team which came here in 2007. “We won the Test and one-day series and that was a massive win and achievement because not many sides had come and won in Pakistan.” concluded Arthur.