KARACHI: England’s cricket team arrived in Karachi on Thursday on their first tour of Pakistan in 17 years, a lengthy absence brought about by security fears following attacks on international teams.
Airport officials told media the England squad, which comprises 19 players plus support staff, landed at Karachi airport on a commercial flight.
On Wednesday, cricket and security officials told Arab News ‘foolproof’ security arrangements had been made for the English cricket team, scheduled to play a seven-match T20 series in Pakistan.
England last visited Pakistan in 2005 to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. Pakistan won the Test series by 2-0 after the match in Faisalabad was drawn.
The green shirts also clinched the ODI series with three convincing victories.
However, a 2009 gun and grenade attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in which six police officers and two civilians were killed and six Sri Lanka players injured turned Pakistan into a virtual no-go area for touring teams and had to play its home matches in the United Arab Emirates.
In September 2021, New Zealand returned home from Pakistan after abruptly abandoning their tour minutes before the opening fixture in Rawalpindi, citing a security alert from their government.
England followed suit days later, calling off their men’s and women’s teams tour of Pakistan next month citing “mental and physical well-being” of the players.
“The Special Security Unit’s commandos will perform security duties along with personnel of other law enforcement agencies at the National Stadium in Karachi,” deputy superintendent police Dr. Maqsood Ahmed told Arab News about security arrangements for the England team, adding that sharp shooters would be deployed at “sensitive places.”
“Aerial surveillance will be done during the movement of the two cricket squads,” he added.
PCB media director Sami-ul-Hasan said the series with England was vital.
“The series against England is an important one for the PCB, not only from the T20 World Cup perspective but also because England have to return to Pakistan for the December Tests,” he said.
England, Hasan said, would be the second high-profile team to visit Pakistan this year after Australia, adding that Pakistan would once again demonstrate its ability to arrange high-profile cricket contests by delivering a successful series against England.
“Of course, Australia and England tours reflect the confidence, faith and trust the two cricket boards and their players have on the PCB and Pakistan,” he added.
The series with England would also prepare Pakistani players for the T20 World Cup next month, the PCB official said.
“As part of our preparations for the T20 World Cup, we will like to play against tougher oppositions so that we can finetune the outlook of our side before we arrive in Brisbane on 15 October,” he said. “In this regard, England will be a great opposition as it is the second-ranked T20I side and includes some of the top players.”
Hasan said the PCB was encouraged to see the response of the cricket fans who were enthusiastically buying tickets for the matches.
“Gate earnings from the first T20I will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund,” he said, adding: “It is imperative that we fill the stadium and show our solidarity and support for all those affected by the calamity.”
The PCB official said Pakistan cricket fans had “waited for 17 years to see England in action in their backyard.”
“This is their opportunity and the PCB hopes the fans, like they supported the Australia series, will back both the sides by turning up in big numbers,” he said.
Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim is expected to unveil the Pakistan squad today, Thursday, for the seven-match T20I series against England, tri-series in New Zealand, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
