Islamabad
Former Skipper Aamir Sohail believes the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should make a return tour to Pakistan, as the Cricket Board (PCB) has honoured their Future Tour Programme (FTP) commitment for the series.
Pakistan would play three Tests and as many T20s against England. The Tests would be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, from August 5-9 and at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, from August 13-17 and August 21-25. The T20s would be played at Old Trafford August 28 and 30, and September 1.
‘I am pleased that PCB has made the effort to honour their FTP commitment and visit England to play the Test and T20 series. I believe that such tours, especially in these troubling times, are very important and send a positive message to the rest of the world. It shows that cricket boards are ready to stand by each other in tough times, as each has contractually binding commitments with their sponsors and broadcasters.’
‘So, for one cricket board to go out of their way to help another as Pakistan is doing is commendable and sets a great precedence for others to follow.
The ECB should repay this favour and make a return tour which to me is also the ethically correct thing to do on their part. However, for that to happen, the PCB will need to approach the matter in an intelligent way and negotiate the issue to the satisfaction of both parties,’ he wrote in his blog for PakPassion.net.
Aamir said Pakistan would be going up against an England side that will have played three Tests against West Indies, the fact is that this should provide them with a good opportunity to gauge their opposition’s strengths and weaknesses and then prepare accordingly.
‘It’s all about how you prepare for a series and this will be a good opportunity for Pakistan to do the same.—APP
