DUBAI: West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy on Monday said he felt sad for Pakistan cricket fans who are deprived of watching international stars on home grounds due to security fears in the country.

He said it was up to the West Indies Cricket Board to decide where the series will be played but he certainly feels sad for Pakistan fans.

“Well, to be honest, these decisions are never ours it’s the government and the cricket body to decide but what I could tell you is that the fans of Pakistan cricket have been missing some good international cricket.

“We as cricketers get to play in front of our home fans and that is something Pakistan have not had an opportunity to do, to play in front of their own people for a while,” said Sammy who is playing Pakistan Super League here.

“It’s sad but hopefully things could get resolved and every territory could get a chance of playing cricket before their own crowds,” said Sammy who is playing alongside Paki­stan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi for Peshawar franchise.

Asked whether any Pakistan player has invited him to their country, Sammy said: “We don’t really talk about it, they have been on the road for a long time with Dubai is home base for them.

“I think every cricketer wants to play at home but its not our decision, it’s the administration that decides that so I dont know.”

Sammy said he was enjoying the company of Pakistan cricketers.

“I just enjoy cricket on the whole, to share the dressing room with Afridi, (Wahab) Riaz and (Kamran) Akmal its a pleasure and playing is an honour.”

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...
Spending restrictions
Updated 13 May, 2024

Spending restrictions

The country's "recovery" in recent months remains fragile and any shock at this point can mean a relapse.
Climate authority
13 May, 2024

Climate authority

WITH the authorities dragging their feet for seven years on the establishment of a Climate Change Authority and...
Vending organs
13 May, 2024

Vending organs

IN these cash-strapped times, black marketers in the organ trade are returning to rake it in by harvesting the ...