It is highly appreciable and welcome to note that the Islamabad police on Sunday reiterated that they were “fully equipped” to provide end-to-end “foolproof and world-class” security to the Black Caps who are scheduled to play a while-ball series against Pakistan from April 14.

As a matter of fact, our security apparatus is quite capable of providing world class security to the visiting sports team and here one may recall their flawless and diligent duties which they performed during the earlier England tour and also during the first tour of the Austrian team to Pakistan in decades during the December 2021. They also performed diligently during the recently concluded eight edition of the Pakistan Super League which was a thumping success when it comes to security situation.

The touring side will play last two T20s in Rawalpindi after playing the first three matches in Lahore. They are also scheduled to play a One-day international encounter in Rawalpindi of the five match series which will kick start with ODI encounter at National Stadium Karachi on May 7.

However, one would advise the Federal Government to provide enough resources to the security apparatus for the meeting the requirements of the security for the series as lack of resources can dampen the spirit of the security set up.

It may be recalled here that the Islamabad police had provided the highest level of security to the visiting English cricket team last year and also the Australian team during the 2021.

Meanwhile, the training camp of the national side is in full swing at Qadafi Stadium Lahore and the players are upbeat for the series. One more good news is that

Shaheen Afridi is back in the national squad as is evident from the announcement of national squad for the upcoming Twenty20 and one-day international series against New Zealand.

Shaheen  Afridi was out of the team due to knee injury which he had suffered during the final of the Two World Cup last year. As such he was not part of the subsequent series against the Black Caps and the England team, However, he was back to game in the Pakistan Super League, and emerged as a star player in the grand final to lead Lahore Qalandars to win their second title in style.

On the other hand, skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are also back in the squad. They were rested for Afghanistan series which was played last month.

It worth mentioning here that the upcoming tour by the New Zealand cricket team is an additional tour and the tour encounters will be part of the ICC Team Rankings.

On the other hand, it will provide an opportunity to the national squad to prepare for the ACC Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. A number of Twinty20 matches are also part of the upcoming series and these matches, the cricket analysts say, will help  the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in rebuilding of the national team for the next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be played in America and the West Indies in the months of June/July next year.

As a matter of fact, good days are being enjoyed by Pak cricket fans since the 2021 as international team are playing in Pakistan now. Last year England team was in the country for their first Test series since 2005.

The visiting team had said they were feeling safe for the all-important series and they embarked on the series with their practice

sessions for the first time at Rawalpindi stadium last year.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place for the team’s stay and their movement and schedules were kept secret with a view to providing them complete security from safety concerns.

The visiting team and the local cricket fans were extremely happy and excited o the arrival of English team which were in Pakistan after as many as 17 years as a Test outfit.

The English team confidence in the security apparatus of the country, who were guiding and providing high level security to them, prove a good omen and a good augury for cricket in this country, which suffered a lot due to the abandoning of international tours in Pakistan in recent years.

Earlier during the 2021, the Aussies visited Pakistan after over two decades and they played their first Test of the series in Rawalpindi which was something to cheer about in those testing times for our sports in the post-pandemic scenario.

Meanwhile, it is crystal clear that India will once again come into action to make a bid to unleash its propaganda campaign against Pakistan to create fear and apprehensions among the visiting teams’ members as it

had been doing during the past many years.

India smear campaign regarding the security threat could not deter the determination of the kangaroos, the Englishmen and the Black Caps.

The visiting teams including the Aussies, the England and New Zealand team, during the last three years have expressed their confidence in the security measures and English Test captain Stokes last year had said that he was impressed by the tight security in Pakistan on their arrival and during their entire stay in the country.

It may be mentioned here that our security apparatus has been extending full support to the Pakistan Cricket Board by providing high level security for the visiting Aussie, English Test and Black Caps.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan recently organized a successful series of international sports events and also the eighth Edition of the Pakistan Super League, which shows that there is no threat to cricket in the country and that our country is safe for touring teams.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 10 2023

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