Let’s just celebrate
Finally, the government, the cricket Board, and the security agencies have made it safe enough for international cricket to return to Pakistan. And after six long years, Zimbabwe has chosen to take the daring first step in this revival. For this, the Zimbabwean government and cricketing fraternity must be appreciated. Once others see that things are indeed better than still widely reported, no doubt more teams will come.
There is an important qualitative aspect to highest level professional cricket, and this home series will go a fair way in impressing that upon the players. Playing in front of the home crowd brings not only a special comfort, but also added responsibility. That urge, of not letting the home crowd down, makes players get the best out of themselves. In this way, not only the players and spectators, but the game itself wins and improves. It is no coincidence that the quality of Pakistani cricket has deteriorated in these years that international cricket has shied away from the country. Hopefully that drought is now permanently over. Once the government has done its part – ensuring foreigners are safe in Pakistan – it is up to the other side to do theirs.
The series also carries important lessons for the security establishment. If all goes well with the tour, they would have got a handle on the problem of security provision. The success should push them to improve the overall security situation that much faster. Sports is not the only area where Pakistan has suffered. Foreign investment, the life and blood of the economy, has also fled. Therefore Pakistan stands at an important crossroads as our players lock horns with their Zimbabwean counterparts in the cricket field. The country is selling its clean-up job and promising a safe environment for all productive foreign indulgences. Hopefully there will be no unforeseen accidents and this revival can be celebrated in the right spirit.
