The PCB should take steps to arrange A-team tours to prepare our youngsters
KARACHI: Pakistan rose to number one in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings for the first time since the official rankings were introduced in 2003. The highest Pakistan has ever reached is second position following its series win over England in the United Arab Emirates last year. The Pakistan Cricket Board should encourage its players to play county cricket and league cricket to adjust to the English conditions because there are many important events lined up over the next few years in England.
Next year, the ICC Championship Trophy will be held in England from June 1 to 19. In May 2018, Pakistan tour to England for two Test matches. Furthermore, in 2019, Pakistan visit England for five ODI matches and one T20 and then from May 30 to July 15, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will be played in England. Therefore, the next three years are crucial for Pakistan considering the number of games in conditions that most of our players are not acquainted with. So, for the next three years, Pakistan play in England and it is high time the PCB took steps to ensure its players got county cricket contracts. The rest of the players who are unable to secure contracts with county teams should be allowed to play league cricket so that they can acclimatise to English conditions and get used to playing cricket in such conditions. The PCB should take steps to arrange A-team tours to prepare our youngsters.
Ghazanfar Ali Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2016.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
