Pakistan safe for cricket, says Cutting

Published March 11, 2020
“Security was not my concern as I had seen the security measures during the World Eleven tour in September 2017,” says the Gladiators' allrounder. —ASL Twitter
“Security was not my concern as I had seen the security measures during the World Eleven tour in September 2017,” says the Gladiators' allrounder. —ASL Twitter

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators’ Australian cricketer Ben Cutting on Tuesday said Pakistan was safe for cricket and he did not have any apprehensions on coming here to play in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020.

“Security was not my concern as I had seen the security measures during the World Eleven tour in September 2017,” Cutting said while talking to media during the Gladiators’ practice session here at the National Cricket Academy.

The Aussie added that he had relished his stay in Pakistan seeing many parts which he had not seen before. “I had visited Pakistan with the World XI for only four days then but the HBL PSL V is a long tour,” he said.

About the chances of Australian team touring Pakistan, he said, “I am not the right person to say anything but Australia might come to play cricket in Pakistan in the next five years.”

On the Gladiators’ lacklustre performance in the ongoing PSL, Cutting said they were a very young side, especially the fast bowlers like Nasim Shah and Mohammad Hasnain.

“They have taken wickets for the team but at the same time they have conceded some runs at times as well and we need to rectify that,” he said in response to a question regarding his team conceding high scores during in the last 10 overs in many matches.

The 33-year-old Cutting regretted the loss in the rain-curtailed Rawalpindi match against Peshawar Zalmi, adding that the team could not get over the line in a tight finish which could have gone any way.

“The Gladiators need to excel in all three areas -- bowling, batting and fielding -- in the last two matches to nurture any hopes of making to the play-offs,” he said.

When asked about young Pakistani fast bowling talent, Cutting said youngsters Nasim Shah and Mohammad Hasnain were immensely talented and destined to rule the world fast-bowling scene for the next 10-15 years.

“I personally dislike facing them in the nets especially when they use two new balls between them as their pace and swing are quite intimidating,” Cutting said.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Killing fields
Updated 09 Jul, 2025

Killing fields

Israeli state seeks to ethnically cleanse the occupied territories of their Palestinian inhabitants, and forever obstruct the chances of a viable Palestinian state.
Crypto rush
09 Jul, 2025

Crypto rush

STEP by step, Pakistan is, at least on paper, moving closer to recognising, adopting and regulating cryptocurrencies...
Another plan
09 Jul, 2025

Another plan

FAILING to plan is planning to fail, as the old saying goes. This seems to have occurred in the case of Karachi, a...
Green tokenism
Updated 08 Jul, 2025

Green tokenism

Climate decisions must be based on facts, not politics — guided by independent science and open to public scrutiny.
Cotton decline
08 Jul, 2025

Cotton decline

PAKISTAN’S cotton economy is in a crisis. Production has fallen from a peak of 14m bales 10 years ago to 5.5m ...
Pet problems
08 Jul, 2025

Pet problems

PAKISTANIS’ obsession with exotic pets keeps ending in tragedy. Incidents like the recent lion attack in a Lahore...