Latif hopes successful PCL convinces cricketing nations of safe conditions in Pak

Islamabad: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes the successful staging of second edition of the Pakistan Champions League would send a good message to the international cricket fraternity regarding the security set up in the country. Latif said that the country is safe and ready to host international matches, and other cricket playing nations could play safely here.

Pakistan has been deprived of top-flight international cricket since a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009. Since then, attempts have been made to invite teams but efforts have gone in vain. However, Latif feels that staging the PCL would be a good omen in reviving top-flight international cricket. “Dozens of matches were played in Karachi across 11 days and not a single incident of security lapse was reported,” The Express Tribune quoted Latif, as saying. “This is an answer to all those critics and lobbies who say that Pakistan is not safe for international sporting events. Our aim was to help Pakistan’s cause of bringing international cricket and reviving club cricket. Both purposes have been served successfully,” he added. The former wicket keeper, who is also the man behind the event, added that the foreign sides were satisfied with arrangements and expressed their desire to visit Pakistan again. “The nation has suffered a lot and now it’s time that international teams open their hearts and come to Pakistan,” Latif said. “If fool-proof security was provided for a club-level competition, there is no reason why we can’t go one step further for protection of international teams. This country has a huge fan base and it’s time that the International Cricket Council helped us,’ he added. ANI