Sarfraz wants PCB to invite Sri Lanka

Former great Sarfraz Nawaz on Friday asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to convince the Sri-Lankan team to plan a tour for the revival of international cricket in the country for rebuilding their trust and cementing ties between both the countries.
Sarfraz said for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan, tour of Sri Lankan team would be affective to rebuild their trust on our security arrangements as they had previously been a victim of the terrorists attacks in 2009 at Lahore. “If a fool-proof security arrangement is assured to the Sri Lankan government and to their cricket board, then I believe they could visit Pakistan,” Sarfraz said. Sarfraz said it was Lankan’s that were attacked and if they tour Pakistan first other teams would also get convinced easily, adding, it would also help promote soft image of the country internationally,” he said. Sarfraz said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other cricketers, players and every concerned authority should try their personal relations to contact with the Sri Lankan cricket bodies and players for their visit to Pakistan. “We can have a small series with them,” he said adding that teams like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan can also be approached for a triangular series here. Sarfraz also advised the PCB to hire a person having international prestige who can make the boards relations better. “It can be anybody a cricketer or administrator,” he said terming it a dire need of the hour.
Sarfraz said in the previous PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s tenure Pakistan image at international level was damaged badly. “In 2010 Ijaz Butt accused the English players of throwing the third one-dayer at the Oval for which he also apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his remarks. At that time Ian Botham had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend Pakistan from international cricket,” Sarfraz said adding that these types of tactics from the previous chairman had spoiled the image of the country at international level and needs to be improved further. Talking about the postponement of Bangladesh team’s tour to Pakistan, the pacer said, “It is very unfortunate and I was expecting a last moment pull out from Bangladeshi side. As for me I don’t think this tour is to happen now,” he concluded.