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Risky for PCB to invite foreign teams: Shoaib Akhtar

Imran Ali Teepu Published July 20, 2012
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ISLAMABAD: Former Test fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday dissuaded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from inviting foreign teams to play in Pakistan because of the prevailing fragile security situation.

Shoaib’s earnest advice came at a time when the PCB is desperately trying to host international events in the country.

Pakistan has not hosted international cricket ever since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009.

“Our citizens are not safe and there is a war going on in the country. Therefore, inviting a team in these conditions will be risky,” remarked the Rawalpindi Express while talking to reporters.

Shoaib, 36, added: “What if any visiting is attacked again? So, I would recommend to the PCB not to invite foreign teams since the country is not in a position to stage any international event.”

Commenting on PCB’s plan to host the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) on the pattern of the IPL, Shoaib maintained:

“Seventy-year-old people can’t organise the PPL. The PCB should hire services of foreign consultants instead of aged people for hosting a successful event, if it really wants to organise the PPL.”

When asked if he will be making a return to international cricket, the former paceman stated: “The decision of my retirement is final and I won’t be making any comeback.”

Regarding banned paceman Mohammad Aamir, he reckoned that Aamir should be given a chance to make a comeback, since he has already been punished.

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