Pakistan have suffered a lot in terms of international cricket since bus carrying Sri Lankan players was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009. The big teams have refused to play in Pakistan citing security as the main reason. West Indies, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have toured Pakistan in the recent times but other teams have said no. With Sri Lanka’s decision to play a two-Test match series in Pakistan, the traditional format is making a return to Pakistan after a gap of 10 years.
Former Aussie umpire Simon Taufel was one of the umpires when the Lankan team bus was attacked. He feels it was deadly and the security of the players and officials is paramount, but he wants to see international cricket in Pakistan.
“Never say never. Things change. There is no country in the world that is immune to bad things happening,” Simon Taufel said as quoted by Geo.tv.
“I do hope that cricket spreads to more parts of the world and even though it was a traumatic experience in Pakistan, I sincerely hope that we see international cricket played there again.”
The home won the ODI series against Sri Lanka but the tide was reversed in the shortest format of the game where Sri Lanka whitewashed Pakistan in a three-match series.