PCB effort has changed perception about Pakistan: ICC chief

Pakistan is on right path and I know that PCB will be redoubling their efforts to encourage people.

(Web Desk) – International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Richardson on Monday said that Pakistan Cricket Board s (PCB) effort to bring top-drawer cricket back to the country, which saw the success of Pakistan Super League, has changed the perception about the country so far as hosting the international matches is concerned.

Over the last two years, Pakistan has made serious strides towards bringing big cricket back to the country. The PCB has successfully hosted various international teams over the last 20 months as well as business-end matches of the high-profile PSL. All this, according to ICC chief executive officer David Richardson, has "changed the perception" of Pakistan as a cricketing destination.

“I think they’ve done a tremendous job and the level of comfort is growing all the time among the foreign players,” Richardson said during the final of PSL 2019 between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi in Karachi.

The tournament’s closing phase was shifted to Pakistan after matches were held in the UAE. There are also talks that the entire PSL could be held in the country next year.

He said: "I know some security officials from Australia and other countries have come to see the matches here. Step by step, certainly, Pakistan is on the right path and I know that the PCB will be redoubling their efforts to encourage people and teams to come across and certainly it will be with the ICC s support."

International cricket in Pakistan came to an abrupt halt after the 2009 terror attack on Sri Lanka s team bus in Lahore, with Pakistan s national team forced to find a home away from home in the UAE. Since the visit of Zimbabwe in 2015, however, there has been a slow and steadily inflow of teams to the country.

The fourth edition of the PSL took place in the UAE, where 26 games played before the matches shifted to Pakistan. Earlier, three of eight matches were scheduled to be played in Lahore followed by five in Karachi.

But later, all the matches moved to Karachi. Over 2,30,000 spectators attended the matches, making it nearly full-house show. However, the security arrangements for the overseas players saw the presidential-level cover.

"As you may be aware, the ICC has tried to support Pakistan in getting international cricket back to Pakistan on a more regular basis and I think everyone agrees that having the PSL matches in Pakistan and the final in Karachi is a great step forward in achieving that," Richardson said.

"Because the fact is that the perception outside of Pakistan was that it was quite a dangerous place to visit in the past and that perception, slowly but surely, has been changed through the good work that has been done yet. I think that point needs to be appreciated. The fact that so many foreign players agreed to come and play in Pakistan is indicative of that," he added.

PSL final saw Quetta Gladiators lifting their maiden title after defeating Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets and 13 balls remaining.