Shoaib Ahktar suggests PCB focus on promoting domestic cricket

MADIHA AZHAR

KARACHI: Cricket in Pakistan is suffering badly as foreign teams are not willing to tour the poverty-stricken, crime-ridden country.

But former Pakistani fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar suggests a new proposal he believes will bolster the country’s image problem.

“Instead of focusing on revival of cricket, PCB should use its resources to develop domestic structure and utilize its assets to generate more funds to strengthen the position of the board and boost first class cricket through reasonable investment. Pakistan has much talent and board’s efforts can introduce brilliants players who can bring laurels to the country,” he said.

He added, “It is not the right step to invite foreign teams in the country despite their concerns. If God forbid any mishap happens, this would throw us far behind,” adding “It is better to wait for the right time to host any tournament.”

Akhtar says “he is ready to give back what he has got from his country. He would be glad to find some great talent from the country and train them to represent the country at the national and international levels and earn good name for the country.”

It seems logical that if we cannot bring-in foreign teams to compete in matches on our soil, we can utilize our resources to strengthen our domestic structure and in doing so help domestic players play cutting-edge cricket on the international platform.