How important is Pakistan in the cricketing world?

[emranabbas]

There have been talks in the last few months or so about pakistan boycotting the the asia cup if india don't travel to pakistan for asia cup and many have said pakistan has no importance in the asia cup and will be replaced easily by another team.

My question today is why has there been a reserve day for india vs pakistan game if pakistan has no importance?

Is it even fair to give india vs pakistan a reserve while the current champions Sri Lanka has no reserve days whatsoever?

Indians are not interested in playing pakistan anywhere in the world because apparently pakistanis fund terrorism and they don't want pakistanis to make money so how can they support such a move by having a reserve day just to play pakistan?

 

[hassan918]

India vs Pakistan is the biggest game in cricket with highest number of audience. No one can deny the fact that cricket is much better when Pakistan is a part of it. We already have match between India and Pakistan in this Asia Cup that was effected by the rain and since there was an off-day after their 10th September match so ACC have decided to give this match a reserve day after consultation with all the 4 boards that are involved in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

 

[Asad T]

In terms of population, we are the second-biggest cricketing country. Despite having a population of about 230 million people, India's population of 1.4 billion dwarfs ours. So yes, we are important and bring in sustantial revenue, but India is on another level and can dictate terms, and there isn't much we can do about it.

 

[Hitman]

Cricket is a game played by very few countries. I’d say every Test playing nation matters to the game.

 

[Cric1234]

Cricket is a game played by very few countries. I’d say every Test playing nation matters to the game.

Not T20 a lot of European and African teams are playing T20 matches they are minnows but at least they are playing one format.

 

[FearlessRoar]

I can't imagine cricket without Pakistan. The country has a strong cricketing tradition and has produced legendary players. The national team's performance, and passionate fan base makes Pakistan an important part of cricket.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Pakistan is Argentina of cricket. Enough said.

 

[Mamoon]

IPL became the biggest the league in cricket without any contribution from Pakistani players since 2009.

That sums up Pakistani cricketers’ importance and value.

 

[shortbread]

IPL became the biggest the league in cricket without any contribution from Pakistani players since 2009.

That sums up Pakistani cricketers’ importance and value.

PSL became the second biggest league without any contribution from Indian players!

 

[FearlessRoar]

PSL is better than IPL because of its successful open trial system, high-quality fast bowling, ability to get top players at lower prices, role in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan, and shorter tournament duration compared to IPL. These factors make PSL unique and more attractive.

 

[ChennaiFan]

The cricketing world is small. Even in this small circle, Pakistan is not important anymore. That is because cricket is changing towards leagues.

 

[Mamoon]

PSL became the second biggest league without any contribution from Indian players!

PSL is terrible and not comparable to IPL in any shape or form. It is just a poor copy like every other league.

 

[Mamoon]

PSL is better than IPL because of its successful open trial system, high-quality fast bowling, ability to get top players at lower prices, role in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan, and shorter tournament duration compared to IPL. These factors make PSL unique and more attractive.

It is 2023 and some people still believe in the myth of PSL’s quality fast bowling. I guess whatever makes them feel better.

 

[saqib.rai]

There have been talks in the last few months or so about pakistan boycotting the the asia cup if india don't travel to pakistan for asia cup and many have said pakistan has no importance in the asia cup and will be replaced easily by another team.

My question today is why has there been a reserve day for india vs pakistan game if pakistan has no importance?

Is it even fair to give india vs pakistan a reserve while the current champions Sri Lanka has no reserve days whatsoever?

Indians are not interested in playing pakistan anywhere in the world because apparently pakistanis fund terrorism and they don't want pakistanis to make money so how can they support such a move by having a reserve day just to play pakistan?

Australia and England are important as Ashes is the biggest test series
India is important as their 1.5 billion population and cricket being the ONLY relevant sport in India brings money into cricket

All other countries don't matter

But as cricket is played by a handful of countries, All countries do become important to a degree

After what happened in 2009 and still Pakistan getting to host international matches again

shows cricket is a tight knit community and all countries make sure that one country is not left behind

 

[FearlessRoar]

It is 2023 and some people still believe in the myth of PSL’s quality fast bowling. I guess whatever makes them feel better.

Who is All-time highest wicket taker of IPL?

 

[Kianig89]

Pakistan's importance in cricketing world is inversely proportional to BCCI's power, the more flex Bcci gets PCB gets squeezed , in another way its good that India failed to win the WC.

Pakistan needs to be strong and competitive and must build good relations with the other big 2, CA & ECB. The only way forward for PCB

 

[Mamoon]

Who is All-time highest wicket taker of IPL?

What does that have to do with anything?

The vast majority of of the best active fast bowlers in the world don’t play in the PSL even if we exclude Indian pacers like Bumrah and Shami for obvious reasons.

The likes of Starc, Cummins, Rabada, Boult, Hazelwood, Wood etc. have never played in PSL. They are the best fast bowlers in the world. Malinga was also very good until 2018-19 and he never played in PSL.

Steyn played one season when he was completely finished as a bowler and Mitchell Johnson signed up when he was also finished but still pulled out.

So who are these quality fast bowlers in PSL that people keep talking about? They don’t exist, it is a false perception based on the myth that Pakistan is a land of fast bowling etc.

The quality of fast bowling in PSL has always been pathetic because the pool of international fast bowlers is poor and the local Pakistani fast bowling, except 2-3, are all mediocre.

 

[sweep_shot]

Cricket is a minor sport globally. Even though 100+ nations play this game, there are only like 5-6 elite teams. Pakistan are one of them.

They have been weakened over the years due to external reasons. But, they are still a "big match" team.

 

[Civil]

Practically speaking and in financial terms the term "Cricketing World" means Indian Public, they are far ahead biggest consumers of cricket (I've seen numbers as high as 90%). In that sense I would say yes we are slightly important to their viewing eyes (PCT, PSL) but below AUS int'l team and IPL. but they would be best to answer.

If we are talking important in terms of Performance, then we have ways to go. Australian dominance of Cricket is what gives the sport some legitimacy when comparing to Football Rugby etc. They are the perfect blend of athleticism and mental strength. They are the marquee nation of this great game.

 

[saqib.rai]

What does that have to do with anything?

The vast majority of of the best active fast bowlers in the world don’t play in the PSL even if we exclude Indian pacers like Bumrah and Shami for obvious reasons.

The likes of Starc, Cummins, Rabada, Boult, Hazelwood, Wood etc. have never played in PSL. They are the best fast bowlers in the world. Malinga was also very good until 2018-19 and he never played in PSL.

Steyn played one season when he was completely finished as a bowler and Mitchell Johnson signed up when he was also finished but still pulled out.

So who are these quality fast bowlers in PSL that people keep talking about? They don’t exist, it is a false perception based on the myth that Pakistan is a land of fast bowling etc.

The quality of fast bowling in PSL has always been pathetic because the pool of international fast bowlers is poor and the local Pakistani fast bowling, except 2-3, are all mediocre.

Exactly
Also the Platinum players in PSL earn less than the top earners in

SA20
iLt20
Big Bash
CPL
And even Bangladesh Premier League

Warner and Smith played CPL and in Bangladesh Premier League when they were banned, didn't register for the PSL

It's a joke tournament with the rhetoric that no matter which team wins- at the end of the day Pakistan has won

Viewership will always be second to IPL as we are a 250 million population country BUT

if you use any other metric
PSL is NOT the second biggest league

 

[ahmadharis1]

Middle of the road nation... if they weren't present the ICC would take a bit of a hit but as long as they have England Australia and India they'll be fine

 

[Technics 1210]

IPL became the biggest the league in cricket without any contribution from Pakistani players since 2009.

That sums up Pakistani cricketers’ importance and value.

Yet India has not won a single WT20 title since the inauguration of the IPL, but Pakistan has.

This sums up the importance of Pakistan cricket and why it does not need to take part in the IPL to win ICC trophies.

Come back with better arguments.

 

[Mamoon]

Yet India has not won a single WT20 title since the inauguration of the IPL, but Pakistan has.

This sums up the importance of Pakistan cricket and why it does not need to take part in the IPL to win ICC trophies.

Come back with better arguments.

The purpose of IPL or any league is not to help their home country win ICC tournaments. The purpose is to generate revenue.

If the purpose was to help their home team win ICC trophies, then the CPL and the Natwest Blast or whatever it is called must be the greatest league in the world since the WI and England have won two T20 WCs each.

IPL wouldn’t have been successful without international stars and it became super successful without any Pakistani representation. Therefore, Pakistani players have little value in contemporary cricket.

 

[Buffet]

Somewhere in middle. Importance is getting less due to poor performance in the last 10-15 years.

Pakistan needs to somehow capitalize on having quarter billion cricket crazy population, generate revenue and have some eye catching players.

 

[Technics 1210]

The purpose of IPL or any league is not to help their home country win ICC tournaments. The purpose is to generate revenue.

If the purpose was to help their home team win ICC trophies, then the CPL and the Natwest Blast or whatever it is called must be the greatest league in the world since the WI and England have won two T20 WCs each.

IPL wouldn’t have been successful without international stars and it became super successful without any Pakistani representation. Therefore, Pakistani players have little value in contemporary cricket.

This thread is about Pakistan's importance to cricket, not IPL.

It will take time to get over the humiliating WC loss, then again you did claim IPL is better than the WC.

Just remember, your BCCI generates more revenue in ONE match playing Pakistan than all of IPL combined in a year.

 

[Mamoon]

This thread is about Pakistan's importance to cricket, not IPL.

It will take time to get over the humiliating WC loss, then again you did claim IPL is better than the WC.

Just remember, your BCCI generates more revenue in ONE match playing Pakistan than all of IPL combined in a year.

IPL is on par with T20 World Cup. There is no point in comparing it to the ODI World Cup. It is a different format.

Losing a World Cup final is not humiliating. What is humiliating is having your team crash out in the group stage and getting smashed by India only to laugh at them for losing the final.

Laughing at those who are better than you is embarrassing.

Pakistan vs India generates a lot of money because Pakistan and India are enemy states; not because Pakistan cricket team is box office material.

IPL franchises and BCCI are not interested in acquiring Pakistani players for IPL. If Pakistani players were very valuable, they would have pleaded with the Indian government to make an exception.

Clearly, IPL doesn’t need Pakistani players to be successful. On the contrary, the value of PSL will skyrocket if they get hold of Indian players.

Kohli alone has more brand value than all PSL franchises put together.

 

[Technics 1210]

IPL is on par with T20 World Cup. There is no point in comparing it to the ODI World Cup. It is a different format.

Losing a World Cup final is not humiliating. What is humiliating is having your team crash out in the group stage and getting smashed by India only to laugh at them for losing the final.

Laughing at those who are better than you is embarrassing.

Pakistan vs India generates a lot of money because Pakistan and India are enemy states; not because Pakistan cricket team is box office material.

IPL franchises and BCCI are not interested in acquiring Pakistani players for IPL. If Pakistani players were very valuable, they would have pleaded with the Indian government to make an exception.

Clearly, IPL doesn’t need Pakistani players to be successful. On the contrary, the value of PSL will skyrocket if they get hold of Indian players.

Kohli alone has more brand value than all PSL franchises put together.

Doesn't change the fact one Pakistan match vs India is the biggest revenue generator for BCCI in a calendar year.

Though it is utterly hilarious (though expected) for you to now claim India plays for revenue and not wins. I guess 10 years of failure does have this effect.

 

[Savak]

Exactly
Also the Platinum players in PSL earn less than the top earners in

SA20
iLt20
Big Bash
CPL
And even Bangladesh Premier League

Warner and Smith played CPL and in Bangladesh Premier League when they were banned, didn't register for the PSL

It's a joke tournament with the rhetoric that no matter which team wins- at the end of the day Pakistan has won

Viewership will always be second to IPL as we are a 250 million population country BUT

if you use any other metric
PSL is NOT the second biggest league

These other leagues have benefitted from Indian IPL owner investments.

The rhetoric no matter which team wins Pakistan has won came about because the PSL was launched in its infancy with the aim to bring international cricket back.

Unless you have teams playing in their home venues i.e. Quetta, Peshawar and a proper home, away concept, you can't develop rivalries. The Lahore Karachi rivalry has not really developed because of how poorly the KK Franchise has been run.

We have not helped the PSL with our mis management. PSL also suffers because it is held in a cramped window and just before the IPL therefore the top IPL players will not want to risk their $1-2 million pays in the IPL by playing in the PSL before that. The PCB needs to find another window for the PSL.

 

[uppercut]

There have been talks in the last few months or so about pakistan boycotting the the asia cup if india don't travel to pakistan for asia cup and many have said pakistan has no importance in the asia cup and will be replaced easily by another team.

My question today is why has there been a reserve day for india vs pakistan game if pakistan has no importance?

Is it even fair to give india vs pakistan a reserve while the current champions Sri Lanka has no reserve days whatsoever?

Indians are not interested in playing pakistan anywhere in the world because apparently pakistanis fund terrorism and they don't want pakistanis to make money so how can they support such a move by having a reserve day just to play pakistan?

in order to answer this question of Pakistan's importance to the Cricketing world .... we should find answers to this hypothetical question: "What would happen if Pakistan suddenly stopped playing cricket altogether?"

Will that Bankrupt the ICC ? The answer is absolutely not.
Will the world miss PCT ? Nope. Because there are no marquee series with intense rivalries involving the PCT like the Ashes or BG trophy etc.
Will it impact the IPL ? Nope
Will the world bend over backwards to get Pakistan back on track? Other than lip service nothing much will happen just like West Indies and Zimbabwe. Evidence is in how the world dragged its feet to travel to Pak.

Sad but thats the harsh reality.

 

[Savak]

in order to answer this question of Pakistan's importance to the Cricketing world .... we should find answers to this hypothetical question: "What would happen if Pakistan suddenly stopped playing cricket altogether?"

Will that Bankrupt the ICC ? The answer is absolutely not.
Will the world miss PCT ? Nope. Because there are no marquee series with intense rivalries involving the PCT like the Ashes or BG trophy etc.
Will it impact the IPL ? Nope
Will the world bend over backwards to get Pakistan back on track? Other than lip service nothing much will happen just like West Indies and Zimbabwe. Evidence is in how the world dragged its feet to travel to Pak.

Sad but thats the harsh reality.

In the last 3 years South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies have all toured India. England and New Zealand chose to play and extended series in Pakistan after the PCB expressed their displeasure over these two countries pulling out in 2021.

The ICC coffers will suffer without Pakistan India coffers.

Pakistan is at number 4 on the ICC revenue table with not much difference b/w Australia, England and Pakistan now. So no, Pakistan does matter

If only we improve our quality of cricket and fix our infrastructure, our team can become marketable again.

 

[chinaman00]

Exactly
Also the Platinum players in PSL earn less than the top earners in

SA20
iLt20
Big Bash
CPL
And even Bangladesh Premier League

Warner and Smith played CPL and in Bangladesh Premier League when they were banned, didn't register for the PSL

It's a joke tournament with the rhetoric that no matter which team wins- at the end of the day Pakistan has won

Viewership will always be second to IPL as we are a 250 million population country BUT

if you use any other metric
PSL is NOT the second biggest league

What are the viewership numbers for PSL? For a country of 250-million, I have seen many empty stands at the PSL matches in Pakistan.

If India was the biggest board simply due to its population size, then why isn’t Pakistan the 2nd biggest board? Pakistan certainly has the fan base as cricket is the only major sport in Pakistan.

The truth is, cricket in Pakistan isn’t run professionally, marketing is horrible, mediocre administration and mediocre players have created a mediocre team that no one is crazy about.

The quality of Pakistani stadiums are easily the worst in the cricketing world and so fans have no interest in sitting on concrete slabs for duration of time. The pitches are pathetic to the point of being a health hazard for players. The list is endless.

 

[chinaman00]

Doesn't change the fact one Pakistan match vs India is the biggest revenue generator for BCCI in a calendar year.

Though it is utterly hilarious (though expected) for you to now claim India plays for revenue and not wins. I guess 10 years of failure does have this effect.

What’s the evidence India-Pakistan matches generate more revenue than all of the IPL for the BCCI in one year?

 

[Savak]

What are the viewership numbers for PSL? For a country of 250-million, I have seen many empty stands at the PSL matches in Pakistan.

If India was the biggest board simply due to its population size, then why isn’t Pakistan the 2nd biggest board? Pakistan certainly has the fan base as cricket is the only major sport in Pakistan.

The truth is, cricket in Pakistan isn’t run professionally, marketing is horrible, mediocre administration and mediocre players have created a mediocre team that no one is crazy about.

The quality of Pakistani stadiums are easily the worst in the cricketing world and so fans have no interest in sitting on concrete slabs for duration of time. The pitches are pathetic to the point of being a health hazard for players. The list is endless.

Its very easy to complain. I would like to see how any country can survive with no international cricket being played in it for a good part of 15 years.

PSL games in Karachi were the only ones with poor attendance but the matches in Multan, Lahore, Pindi were sold out. If the matches will be held in Quetta and Peshawar, those games will be sold out as well.

 

[saqib.rai]

There is too much bakwaas and negativity in this thread and a desperate desire to be in Mamoon's good books.

In the last 3 years South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies have all toured India. England and New Zealand chose to play and extended series in Pakistan after the PCB expressed their displeasure over these two countries pulling out in 2021.

The ICC coffers will suffer without Pakistan India coffers.

Pakistan is at number 4 on the ICC revenue table with not much difference b/w Australia, England and Pakistan now. So no, Pakistan does matter

If only we improve our quality of cricket and fix our infrastructure, our team can become marketable again.

There is no black or white answer. There are many grey areas while looking at Pakistan's important/relevance.

In 2008, we didn't play a SINGLE test match.
Bilaterals ODIs were only against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
No relevant cricket board would have had to face this discrimination. We did.

But as cricket is seriously played by only a handful of countries, the cricketing world will do everything to not lose Pakistan.
Countries touring us again after what happened in 2009 shows that.

 

[uppercut]

In the last 3 years South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies have all toured India. England and New Zealand chose to play and extended series in Pakistan after the PCB expressed their displeasure over these two countries pulling out in 2021.

Only reluctantly. And given how poor these series were in terms of viewership, fan following, quality of cricket, pitches ... it is pretty safe to say that Pakistan Cricket is headed in the wrong direction especially in Test Cricket.

Also Pakistan has faar bigger problems that need urgent attention than Cricket. Without a stable economy it is hard to build any institutions in sports or otherwise.

The ICC coffers will suffer without Pakistan India coffers.Pakistan is at number 4 on the ICC revenue table with not much difference b/w Australia, England and Pakistan now. So no, Pakistan does matter

Wont make any significant dent . There are hardly any profitable tours of PCT. Just look at the long gaps between tours to any country. And I don't think PCB is a net contributor to the ICC Revenues. Yes there are teams in much poor shape than Pakistan

If only we improve our quality of cricket and fix our infrastructure, our team can become marketable again.

And for that to happen the security and economic condition of the country has to change first which will take a loooong time.

 

[kingusama92]

Pakistan is quite important.

India generates 80% of the total revenue so it's miles ahead of everyone. However, Pakistan neatly slots itself with the others in terms of revenue generation and also has the highest growth potential market-wise among those other nations. I see it as being relatively untapped when it comes to its overall potential with the right marketing strategy.

The fact Pakistan has managed to do all of this with significant internal and external issues highlights its value as a cricketing asset. Not many other nations could sustain such damage and still come out on the other side making money. All of them would be obliterated into earning pennies within months.

Plus, India-Pakistan matches are huge profit generators without much need for marketing. This alone is enough to indicate Pakistan's value as the "villain" in India's story. Every good story needs a villain in a world where attention spans are dwindling.

The return on these matches is excellent due to the natural rivalry and this was seen both in the Asia Cup and the World Cup.

 

[chinaman00]

Its very easy to complain. I would like to see how any country can survive with no international cricket being played in it for a good part of 15 years.

PSL games in Karachi were the only ones with poor attendance but the matches in Multan, Lahore, Pindi were sold out. If the matches will be held in Quetta and Peshawar, those games will be sold out as well.

Absence of international cricket doesn’t explain the empty seats at PSL matches. Almost of the international tours to Pakistan the last 2-years have been extremely underwhelming with barely any fans in the stadiums. We are talking about Australia, New Zealand and England. These are top teams and if fans aren’t coming to the stadium to watch them, then there’s something seriously wrong.

 

[Savak]

Pakistan is quite important.

India generates 80% of the total revenue so it's miles ahead of everyone. However, Pakistan neatly slots itself with the others in terms of revenue generation and also has the highest growth potential market-wise among those other nations. I see it as being relatively untapped when it comes to its overall potential with the right marketing strategy.

The fact Pakistan has managed to do all of this with significant internal and external issues highlights its value as a cricketing asset. Not many other nations could sustain such damage and still come out on the other side making money. All of them would be obliterated into earning pennies within months.

Plus, India-Pakistan matches are huge profit generators without much need for marketing. This alone is enough to indicate Pakistan's value as the "villain" in India's story. Every good story needs a villain in a world where attention spans are dwindling.

The return on these matches is excellent due to the natural rivalry and this was seen both in the Asia Cup and the World Cup.

I would like to see the state of Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh without any international cricket at home for 15 years and without hosting India at home. PCB is at number in the ICC revenue table without having hosted India since 2008.

Cricket Australia and ECB had to go begging to India to tour them during Covid. ECB were grateful to the PCB for touring them in 2020 and saving them from Bankrupcy. Sky had paid 60 million pounds to the ECB for that series.

 

[Savak]

Absence of international cricket doesn’t explain the empty seats at PSL matches. Almost of the international tours to Pakistan the last 2-years have been extremely underwhelming with barely any fans in the stadiums. We are talking about Australia, New Zealand and England. These are top teams and if fans aren’t coming to the stadium to watch them, then there’s something seriously wrong.

Empty PSL seats were only at Karachi. The PSL games in Pindi, Lahore, Multan were sold out and if the PSL is held in Quetta, Peshawar, those games will be sold out at as well.

Most games in Karachi have poor attendances, Khi has a lot of monopoly when it comes to holding international cricket matches, the stadium is also not easily accessible to fans who have to go through hardship by being made to stand in lines for 3-4 hours before being allowed entry.

The key is to develop alternative stadiums so that one venue and city monopoly does not lead to over saturation.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan is not as important as it thinks it is, nor is it is as important as it could be.

We have done well to stay afloat given the circumstances but bad management and a lack of development has let the game down.

We could and probably should be a major revenue generator and cricketing super power.

 

[chinaman00]

Empty PSL seats were only at Karachi. The PSL games in Pindi, Lahore, Multan were sold out and if the PSL is held in Quetta, Peshawar, those games will be sold out at as well.

Most games in Karachi have poor attendances, Khi has a lot of monopoly when it comes to holding international cricket matches, the stadium is also not easily accessible to fans who have to go through hardship by being made to stand in lines for 3-4 hours before being allowed entry.

The key is to develop alternative stadiums so that one venue and city monopoly does not lead to over saturation.

Karachi is your country’s biggest city, why should there be any empty seats?

You can make excuses but it doesn’t hide the fact that there’s no fan base in Pakistan for cricket and that the game is incompetently run.

 

[Mamoon]

I would like to see the state of Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh without any international cricket at home for 15 years and without hosting India at home. PCB is at number in the ICC revenue table without having hosted India since 2008.

Cricket Australia and ECB had to go begging to India to tour them during Covid. ECB were grateful to the PCB for touring them in 2020 and saving them from Bankrupcy. Sky had paid 60 million pounds to the ECB for that series.

ECB were fools to be grateful to PCB for touring them in 2020.

PCB sent the Pakistan team knowing that if they back off, it would almost ruin any hopes of ECB sending the England team to Pakistan.

PCB didn’t do any favors to ECB. They were only looking after their interests and therefore, ECB had no reason to be grateful.

 

[Savak]

Karachi is your country’s biggest city, why should there be any empty seats?

You can make excuses but it doesn’t hide the fact that there’s no fan base in Pakistan for cricket and that the game is incompetently run.

Biggest City means the Busiest City as well, the culture of Karachi is very different from the other cities in Pakistan.

No Fan Base in Pakistan would mean empty seats in Lahore, Pindi, Multan as well. The PSL exhibition match in Quetta was sold out as well. You will see people turn out in droves in other places in Pakistan outside Karachi.

The game being incompetently run is another topic

 

[Savak]

ECB were fools to be grateful to PCB for touring them in 2020.

PCB sent the Pakistan team knowing that if they back off, it would almost ruin any hopes of ECB sending the England team to Pakistan.

PCB didn’t do any favors to ECB. They were only looking after their interests and therefore, ECB had no reason to be grateful.

The Pakistani players in 2020 took a huge risk by touring England when the Pandemic was unknown, a vaccine was yet to be released in the market and the entire country of England was in lock down, Harris Sohail even pulled out of that tour.

The ECB after they cancelled their trip to Pakistan in 2021, came back running to the PCB after being reprimanded by their government for ruining relations with Pakistan and then they sent their team for a 5 match T-20 series and a 3 test match series in 2022. England is coming to Pakistan yet again in October 2024 for a 3 test match series. The ECB values the Pakistani team and knows full well the Pakistani fan base and population in the UK which is a million plus is a big source of revenue for them after India hence they must cater to the sentiments of the Pakistani market.

 

[deltexas]

Pakistan is Argentina of cricket. Enough said.

Pak is more like the England of football! Always come into the tournament with lots of hype and high rankings/seedings and then struggle and depend on miracles to get out of the league stage

 

[Itachi]

Pakistan used to be relevant.

Previously there was drama but among talented people.

Now it's drama but among talentless people.

So graph is going down.

 

[Mamoon]

The Pakistani players in 2020 took a huge risk by touring England when the Pandemic was unknown, a vaccine was yet to be released in the market and the entire country of England was in lock down, Harris Sohail even pulled out of that tour.

The players will do what the PCB asks them to do and it is not like they were living in a first world country that was fully equipped with combating COVID. It wasn’t exactly the act of valor and courage that you are representing it to be.

PCB knew that backing out of the tour would pretty much eliminate any chances of England touring Pakistan in the near future and they acted out of their own interests not because they wanted to help ECB. There is nothing wrong in looking after your own interests, but at least be honest about them.

The ECB after they cancelled their trip to Pakistan in 2021, came back running to the PCB after being reprimanded by their government for ruining relations with Pakistan and then they sent their team for a 5 match T-20 series and a 3 test match series in 2022.

The ECB was well within its right to call off the 2021 series after the way New Zealand pulled out of the tour right before the first match citing security reasons.

It might have been a false alarm, but you have to understand that Pakistan has zero credibility, it will always be someone else’s world over Pakistan’s and that teams will always adopt a “better safe than sorry” approach when it comes to playing in Pakistan.

New Zealand pulling out of Pakistan in that fashion would obviously ring the alarm bells in ECB and proceeding that tour would have been a reckless and risky decision because if something were to happen, they would always be questioned why they proceeded with the tour when New Zealand pulled out only a few weeks prior.

Pakistani fans might not see it that way but the reality is that it is not ECB or any cricket board’s responsibility to support Pakistan or help them restore cricket in Pakistan. Our fans love to play victim but Pakistan is fully responsible, or was responsible, for its situation and there was no moral obligation on teams to play in Pakistan.

England is coming to Pakistan yet again in October 2024 for a 3 test match series. The ECB values the Pakistani team and knows full well the Pakistani fan base and population in the UK which is a million plus is a big source of revenue for them after India hence they must cater to the sentiments of the Pakistani market.

ECB does not need to cater to the sentiments of the Pakistani market and they don’t do that anyway. If they did, they wouldn’t have backed off in 2021 and they wouldn’t hesitate in backing off in 2024 either if they identify - or are made aware of - potential security threat.

They will tour Pakistan just like they did in 2022 as long as there is no looming threat and their intelligence service gives them the green signal. They will not tour Pakistan just like in 2021 if they are alerted of looming threat and their intelligence service decides that it is better to be safe than sorry.

It is not that deep and it has nothing to do with catering to the sentiments of the Pakistani market. That is what we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel important and worthy.

Every single team will do just fine by not playing a single match against Pakistan just like they did just fine by not playing a single match in Pakistan for a decade. World cricket doesn’t need Pakistan; only Pakistani fans do.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Pakistan is the front face of cricket for fast bowlers, so for sure, cricket is incomplete without them.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Part of big 4 defenitely.

Pak, IN, Eng and OZ are the core.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Pakistan is the second biggest audience in world cricket, that alone makes them important. Cricket itself is not that big a sport outside of the subcontinent that is what needs to be understood. Cricket is a South Asian obsession, trying to ingratiate yourself as partners with bemused European heritage Big Three partners was always doomed to failure.

 

[Technics 1210]

One thing is for certain, if Pakistan cricket didn't exist, then the alter egos would have zilch to talk about.

Pakistan cricket is paramount for the existence of the sport, and its haters.

 

[uppercut]

The Pakistani players in 2020 took a huge risk by touring England when the Pandemic was unknown, a vaccine was yet to be released in the market and the entire country of England was in lock down, Harris Sohail even pulled out of that tour.

The ECB after they cancelled their trip to Pakistan in 2021, came back running to the PCB after being reprimanded by their government for ruining relations with Pakistan and then they sent their team for a 5 match T-20 series and a 3 test match series in 2022. England is coming to Pakistan yet again in October 2024 for a 3 test match series. The ECB values the Pakistani team and knows full well the Pakistani fan base and population in the UK which is a million plus is a big source of revenue for them after India hence they must cater to the sentiments of the Pakistani market.

Pakistan cricket is one security incident away from being shunned by the cricketing world from touring to PAK.

Regardless, I dont see the current situation as being viable as it requires massive security arrangements for every single tour. Thats not economically viable. Ramiz Raja has confessed that and admitted that Pakistan cricket survives because of India. The govt cannot keep paying for the security given the dire economic situation in Pakistan.

But the biggest tell-tale sign is the complete lack of interest for Test cricket amongst fans , and the pathetic performances from the players makes it harder for fans to support. In short Pakistan cricket is taking the exact same road that West Indies took.

 

[LegendAli]

99% of Cricket fans would agree Pakistan is #4 after India, Aus, and England.

 

[160KPH]

There’s such few Test playing nations that all of them are very important to the cricketing world.

 

[Itachi]

99% of Cricket fans would agree Pakistan is #4 after India, Aus, and England.

#4 is due to lack of alternatives. Not because Pakistan has done 'something' to achieve #4.

 

[LegendAli]

#4 is due to lack of alternatives. Not because Pakistan has done 'something' to achieve #4.

and why are you stating the obvious?

Did you see anyone even imply Pakistan is superior to the likes of South Africa and New Zealand?

 

[uppercut]

99% of Cricket fans would agree Pakistan is #4 after India, Aus, and England.

That doesn't mean a whole lot as PCB is not exactly a self sufficient board.