Foreign cricketers feel ‘safe’ in Pakistan: Atherton

• The former England captain visited the country in early March before coronavirus outbreak.
• He was working on a documentary on the revival of cricket in Pakistan.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has lauded security arrangements provided to cricketers during Pakistan Super League (PSL) season five and said they feel safe in the country.

The right-handed batsman, who represented England in 115 Test and 54 One-day Internationals (ODI) from 1989-2001, visited Pakistan in early March during PSL season five.

He was working on a documentary on the revival of cricket in Pakistan, which is likely to be aired in the summer this year before Pakistan tour of England.

While sharing his views in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s podcast, the he said staging entire PSL season in Pakistan will help changing the perception about country’s security situation.

“Well, you only have to look around: the crowds, enthusiasm and packed houses for every game in PSL. Importantly, all these foreign players will now know that it is safe here and they will be able to take that message to the players from their own countries,” said Atherton.

“I was in a café at a local hotel last night [March 8] and there were about eight to nine English players like Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara, Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory, Liam Dawson and they were all saying how much they’ve enjoyed the competition, the tournament’s standard has been great and they feel perfectly safe here. So, this message will get passed back and that will encourage more and more players and teams to come,” he added.

The 52-year-old also applauded Pakistan team’s competitiveness despite playing away from home for a significant period of time.

“It’s of great sadness that international cricket left Pakistan for the best part of seven or eight years after that attack in 2009. It could not have been easy from all kinds of perspectives to play in the UAE,” he said.

“Players played in front of empty grounds and were constantly away from home. Which other team has had to play virtually 12 months a year on the road? The financial cost for the PCB must have been significant over that period.”