Zaheer Abbas hopes Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan

ICC president expresses his desire for more international cricket in home nation

ICC president, Zaheer Abbas is hoping to convince neighboring cricketing nations, such as Sri Lanka, to resume tours to Pakistan.   

Pakistan had been banished as a hosting nation due to the attack on the Sri Lankan team’s bus by terrorists in Lahore in March 2009. Pakistan ended their six-year exile as hosts of international cricket earlier this year when Zimbabwe toured the nation in May.

"The time will come when our neighbours will come. I am hoping especially that Sri Lanka should come," Abbas said on ESPNCricinfo.

"We've been very close to each other in every department. If a gesture comes from them I will be very happy.

"Openly I can't but by talking and trying to convince the ICC members maybe. Obviously everybody is there to listen to you. If I am speaking to them as a cricketer they will.

"Zimbabwe coming is a good change but why is it that Pakistan is the only country where international cricket is not being played? Take an example of Sri Lanka - when they were going through a bad time we used to come and play here.

"You should not try to let cricket die in Pakistan it will be of no use. Our job is to spread cricket all over the world that's why we have new members and we always encourage them."

An internationally acclaimed batsman, Abbas was recently in Sri Lanka at the request of Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny. He witnessed the fourth ODI match of Pakistan against Sri Lanka in which the visitors were able clinch the ODI series by 3-1. After the match, he expressed his delight with the energy levels exhibited by the team in the field.

"I am really happy to see the way they are fielding and their energy on the field. This is because of youngsters who have come in and are trying to prove themselves," he said.

"When they were in and out, their performances were bad but now you see their performance it's tremendous. Some of the things they did on the field I've never seen before in Pakistan cricket. It looks like the Pakistan team is a very good fielding side.

"Sri Lanka is also a very good fielding side but these days they are dropping too many catches which was never there before. They have to improve in that area. You need to have young players and three-four seniors but if they are not performing well, you have to bring a youngster. The World Cup is coming up in a few years so everybody has started preparations."