Devoid of any international cricket since the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi is hopeful of an international series in Lahore later this year. “It all depends on how quickly the government is able to erode the terrorist threat. But we don’t rule out a short ODI series in Lahore with an international team later this year,” said Sethi.
Pakistan cricket has not only suffered due to lack of international cricket on home shores but the constant administrative changes in PCB have also not helped the nation’s most popular game. Sethi admits the need to address the troubling issues. “The ICC has now learnt to live with instability in Pakistan. Instability is a real cause for concern at home. The constant intervention of the courts in both day-to-day and strategic matters in the PCB is creating a logjam and derailing many urgently needed projects,” Sethi was quoted as saying by PakPassion.net.
Hailing Waqar Younis’s return to the coaching position, Sethi said that was a move in the right direction for Pakistan cricket. “Waqar is recognised universally as a solid professional. His expertise and leadership qualities have been honed considerably in the last few years at home and abroad and this is acknowledged even by his critics,” said Sethi.
Waqar, 42, quit as head coach due to personal reasons in 2011 but Sethi feels the former speedster will certainly fit into ex-coach Dav Whatmore’s shoes. “Everyone says that if he can show a degree of maturity in handling the players, then he is the best man for the job. I think he has matured and will do a good job,” said Sethi. “The head coach should have a say in all matters related to training, selection, tactics and strategy. In the current case, he will work closely with Moin Khan and the captain,” said Sethi.
