Urge Cricket-Playing Nations to Tour Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq to NDTV
Zimbabwe became the first nation to tour Pakistan in six years since the 2009 terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus. Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has now urged the other nations to also start touring.
With a two-match T20 International series and three one-day internationals against Zimbabwe, international cricket finally returned to Pakistan after a long hiatus of six years, two months and 19 days.
With cricket fever reaching an all-time high across the border, NDTV caught up with Pakistan's Test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq during the mid-innings break in Pakistan's second ODI win over Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi Stadium. Misbah, who retired from ODIs after the World Cup and played the role of a commentator during the series said he was happy to see international cricket return home.
Misbah believes "this gives a clear-cut message to everyone throughout the world - you can't just separate the Pakistani nation from cricket".
Thronged by fans, Misbah said, "We still love this game - even after six years, the passion is still there. The stadium is jam-packed."
Misbah urged the cricket-playing nations to tour Pakistan now that Zimbabwe had made a foray. "Every nation, especially the cricket playing-nations should come to Pakistan and help Pakistan out."
With Sri Lanka and Bangladesh possibly set to tour Pakistan soon, till the next series, keep watching this space.