NSA says Pakistan safe for international cricket

Laments false impression about ‘security perils’ hobbled cricket

LAHORE:

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf has said that perception regarding security in Pakistan with regard to hosting international cricket was unfortunate, asserting the country was safe for the sport.

In the off-the-cuff remarks to media while watching Pakistan Super League's (PSL) match in Gaddafi Stadium along with family, the national security adviser said security was not an issue in the country, regretting that the world had made up its own mind in this regard.

He cheered international cricket’s return to the country and said the sport had for long remained hobbled by the false impression about the alleged “security perils”. “Unfortunately, this thing [wrong perception] sometimes gets in the way,” he lamented.

“The image of our country has been misrepresented to the world during the last two decades,” he said. “Some unfortunate terror incidents had indeed taken place but the international cricket has returned to Pakistan after Allah granted us success in overcoming terrorism.”

Read more: Pakistan did not aid or abet anyone in Afghanistan: NSA Moeed Yusuf

“Now the Australian team is coming. In the future more teams will visit Pakistan,” he said.

The NSA went on to laud the “tremendous enthusiasm” being displayed for PSL matches.

Moeed reminisced his childhood and said, “As children, we used to play cricket and football in our streets. Our children have not seen the enthusiasm for sports that we have witnessed, but now the atmosphere of our times is returning”.

“We want to show the world the true face of Pakistan,” he said and added he was glad that cricket was seeing a revival in the country.

In response to a question regarding the Australian team's tour to Pakistan, Moeed Yousuf said that he was in touch with the Australian authorities regarding the team's tour. “Their team came here to inspect the situation, following which the tour was finalised.”