Lahore, March 31: Pakistan's Test and ODI captain Misbahul Haq has said his country should attract foreign players to the country through the Twenty20 route.
Pakistan has not played a test match on home soil since 2009 since the militant attack on Sri Lankan cricket players in Lahore.
“I think through T20 cricket we can also end our forced drought of international cricket at home,” Misbah told a news agency on Saturday.
“There is no doubt our cricket and players have suffered because of the refusal of teams to visit Pakistan due to security concerns.”
He hoped a local T-20 league could attract some foreign cricketers. “What we should do is organise our domestic T20 league over a period of three weeks and try to also see if we can invite some low-profile foreign players that will help the (Pakistan Cricket) Board portray a soft image of Pakistan and break the ice for teams to come and play in the country.”
Foreign teams have refused to travel to Pakistan since the Lahore attack, leaving Pakistan to play “home” matches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and England.
“I would like to see one proper T20 league championship like it is held in other countries, with teams playing on home and away basis,” he said.
“Presently the duration of the tournaments is too short and cannot help produce or groom players,” he said.
“The short duration of these T20 events also does not allow them to leave an impact on domestic cricket or on other cricket playing nations.”
Misbah said when he had spoken to overseas players they had been keen to play in the Pakistan Super League T20 which was supposed to begin this week but was postponed in February because of logistical problems and security concerns from international bodies.
“Hopefully the PSL will be held soon, but why not start by inviting a few players for our domestic T20 event?” Misbah said.
“If we have a proper T20 league it will also raise the profile of domestic cricket in Pakistan.”
