The UAE feels so much like a part of the subcontinent that you never have the impression of having left home.

There are brown faces everywhere, and Urdu is more or less the lingua franca, spoken by the local Arab population with almost the same ease as by Pakistani and Indian expatriates. True, parts of the UAE are more opulent and developed, but the subcontinent too has pockets that are no less glamorous. There is one big difference, however, in that the UAE is utterly safe, with near-perfect law and order.

This tranquil and reassuring security scenario is a far cry from our own cities, and is the primary reason that the PCB has shifted Pakistan’s home matches to the UAE. The advantages are obvious, as Test sides have no qualms coming to play at venues like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which are respected international destinations. The arrangements and playing facilities are also world-class, which makes for a smooth and trouble-free experience for everyone involved, including players, officials, media personnel, and spectators alike.

Many people are concerned at the lack of crowds in the recent Test series against England, but this is not a result of the matches being hosted outside Pakistan. In fact, Test match attendance even at places like Lahore and Karachi has dwindled greatly, and in all likelihood the England Tests would have seen sparse crowds even if they had been played at Pakistani venues. The reason for this is that Test cricket is the most sophisticated form of the game, and like all sophisticated art forms, it attracts a modest – though highly committed – following. It is like classical music, which has a select but intensely loyal core support, while the vast majority of music lovers gravitate towards pop, rock, and Bollywood tunes.

There are also misgivings that the offshore relocation of Pakistan’s international fixtures is depriving Pakistani spectators of top-class cricket. However, there is a large Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE as well; as the strong crowds at ODI matches this past week have shown, they love their cricket and are delighted to see it live. Whether these matches are played within Pakistan or in the UAE, either way it is Pakistanis who are availing and enjoying the entertainment.

Yet another reservation about offshore cricket is that it will result in declining interest in cricket as a sport. This is also a myth, because interest in cricket is almost entirely a function of the national team’s success. If the team does well, it creates a feel-good ripple that draws everyone in, and the players are looked up to as role models by aspiring and motivated youngsters.

Cricket is the only major international sport in which Pakistan is regarded as an elite team. It is hard to imagine people losing interest in the game if the team continues to win as spectacularly as it just did in the magnificent Test whitewash over England.On the other hand, interest in cricket will plummet if the team keeps facing defeat after defeat, regardless of whether the defeats happen within Pakistan or elsewhere.

One does feel sympathy for the players, because they are hardly spending any time at home. This, however, is the reality of the modern international cricketer, and it is unrelated to Pakistan’s security crisis. With a huge mass audience demanding cricket all the time, the international calendar is heavily packed with tours and tournaments year-round. Even for matches within Pakistan, our players would be required to travel throughout the country, necessarily limiting time spent in their own hometowns.

Of course, there is the perennial question of home advantage, an asset available to every side that is eliminated if the team cannot play at home. But in Pakistan’s case, neutral venues have proved to be something of an advantage. Since 1999, Pakistan have played 16 Tests at neutral venues (one each in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, two in England, and 12 in the UAE), winning eight and losing four, for a win-loss ratio of two. During this period, Pakistan have also played 32 Tests on home turf, winning 14 and losing 8, producing a lower win-loss ratio (1.75). At away venues (opposition’s home) during this time, Pakistan have played 62 Tests, winning 20 and losing 29 (win-loss ratio 0.68). These figures confirm that Pakistan has performed best on neutral turf.Certainly there are important variables other than venue that influence a team’s win-loss record, but by no means have neutral venues been a liability for our team.

It may be worth the PCB adopting the neutral territory of the UAE as a permanent second home for Pakistan cricket. The flying time from major Pakistani cities to Dubai is at most only two hours (about as much as it takes to fly from Karachi to Islamabad), making it highly convenient and accessible. With the excellent facilities, superior arrangements, and large Pakistani audience on offer, there is no reason why places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah can’t be a part of any major itinerary, even after international tours to Pakistan are restored.