Why stop playing Tests in the UAE?

[Junaids]

I'm struggling - as a non-Pakistani - to understand the imperative for Pakistan to play its home Tests in Pakistan.

Even in the days when it was safe other teams hated to tour Pakistan and avoided it as much as they could. They just didn't like the place - cue thoughts of Ian Botham wanting to send his other-in-law.

But in the final decade before the appalling attack on the Sri Lankan tourists no Pakistani spectators were bothering to attend home Tests anyway, even on weekends. The crowds were a joke.

But visiting teams seem to genuinely like touring the UAE. The hotels are great, the street scenes are not confronting, their wives and girlfriends view it as a tour behind only Australia, South Africa and the West Indies in its desirability.

And in terms of cricket politics it is a very smart "home" too, with the ICC now based in Dubai. Pakistan is almost its host Board.

I understand that it costs money to the PCB. But the other major nations will be happy to visit the UAE far, far more frequently than they would ever have visited Pakistan, even if it was safe - which it isn't.

So why not just accept reality and stay put? And perhaps look at extending home series to 4 Tests to include not just Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Sharjah, but add Qatar too.

 

[Mamoon]

Nothing like playing in Pakistan in front of the 'real' home crowed in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar etc.

Absolutely no comparison and who cares what the wives and girlfriends of the touring teams prefer. Matches in neutral venues simply don't have the charm and attraction and even for the visiting teams, it is more motivating.

Australia would rather beat Pakistan in Pakistan than in UAE. Of course we won't get cricket at home for another 5/6 years minimum and maybe even a decade before teams like Australia, South Africa, England etc tour us but when they do, the attendance will be amazing.

Whenever cricket returns in Pakistan, the reaction will be great because people are starved for it.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I'd rather the matches were played in Pakistan than in the UAE. The UAE is a boring,dull place to play cricket. Other than 90's Sharjah ODI's, cricket played over there has no atmosphere whatsoever.

 

[Strike!]

The empty blue chairs?

The attendances are a joke.

 

[Junaids]

Nothing like playing in Pakistan in front of the 'real' home crowed in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar etc.

Absolutely no comparison and who cares what the wives and girlfriends of the touring teams prefer. Matches in neutral venues simply don't have the charm and attraction and even for the visiting teams, it is more motivating.

Australia would rather beat Pakistan in Pakistan than in UAE. Of course we won't get cricket at home for another 5/6 years minimum and maybe even a decade before teams like Australia, South Africa, England etc tour us but when they do, the attendance will be amazing.

Whenever cricket returns in Pakistan, the reaction will be great because people are starved for it.

Pakistanis didn't bother to attend home Tests before. What makes you think they would start now?

Remember how empty the grounds were when you beat England 2-0 in 2005-6?

Would it be an option to keep your home Tests in the UAE, and play a few trial ODIs in Gwadar? On the basis that its probably the only town in Pakistan where you can guarantee the safety of both sides.

 

[sam_ahm]

Well if Pakistan gets to play in Pakistan again then nothing like it but until then I would love to see Pakistan continue to play in the UAE rather than at any other venue like BAN or SLN or any other.

Even during the 90's the UAE was like a second home for Pakistan and it is nice to see Pakistan use this as their adopted home.

 

[JibranAnsari]

The visiting teams dont really like playing in the uae. The weather is too harsh for them.. maybe their wives like to do shopping there.
The only upside is we are guaranteed 5 days of play.

 

[Hawkeye]

It's hilarious if people think playing for 'crowd' is the ONLY reason of home matches.

Each country has its entire domestic setup. Kids grow up playing on grounds and pitches, get familiar, and it's an immense advantage if international matches are held in grounds where they've played their entire life.

Home matches also attract young kids. More people start playing cricket.

 

[DrSchultz]

PCB should look into playing some matches at other Gulf countries like Qatar. If there isn't so much cricket at one place, attendances will improve.

 

[Junaids]

It's hilarious if people think playing for 'crowd' is the ONLY reason of home matches.

Each country has its entire domestic setup. Kids grow up playing on grounds and pitches, get familiar, and it's an immense advantage if international matches are held in grounds where they've played their entire life.

Home matches also attract young kids. More people start playing cricket.

I get that.

But of the non-Asian nations, I reckon probably 50% of the players travel with domestic partners to whom they are not married. Pakistan was viewed as an undesirable tour long before the terror problem because of the cultural and social differences. I'm not defending that, but you just have to look at how often the other countries toured Pakistan - and how short the tours were - to see that Pakistan was the tour that everyone tried to minimise and avoid.

So even if Pakistan somehow got to host international cricket again, it's probably the difference between hosting the big nations for 3 Tests in the UAE every 4 years compared with hosting them for 2 Tests in Pakistan every 6-8 years.

 

[90MPH]

No we have to play in Pak when it becomes safe to do so.

That might well take another 4/5 years in any case.

 

[Khizr96]

Nothing like playing in Pakistan in front of the 'real' home crowed in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar etc.

Absolutely no comparison and who cares what the wives and girlfriends of the touring teams prefer. Matches in neutral venues simply don't have the charm and attraction and even for the visiting teams, it is more motivating.

Australia would rather beat Pakistan in Pakistan than in UAE. Of course we won't get cricket at home for another 5/6 years minimum and maybe even a decade before teams like Australia, South Africa, England etc tour us but when they do, the attendance will be amazing.

Whenever cricket returns in Pakistan, the reaction will be great because people are starved for it.

EXcellent post nothing like Pakistan

 

[Khizr96]

I'm struggling - as a non-Pakistani - to understand the imperative for Pakistan to play its home Tests in Pakistan.

Even in the days when it was safe other teams hated to tour Pakistan and avoided it as much as they could. They just didn't like the place - cue thoughts of Ian Botham wanting to send his other-in-law.

But in the final decade before the appalling attack on the Sri Lankan tourists no Pakistani spectators were bothering to attend home Tests anyway, even on weekends. The crowds were a joke.

But visiting teams seem to genuinely like touring the UAE. The hotels are great, the street scenes are not confronting, their wives and girlfriends view it as a tour behind only Australia, South Africa and the West Indies in its desirability.

And in terms of cricket politics it is a very smart "home" too, with the ICC now based in Dubai. Pakistan is almost its host Board.

I understand that it costs money to the PCB. But the other major nations will be happy to visit the UAE far, far more frequently than they would ever have visited Pakistan, even if it was safe - which it isn't.

So why not just accept reality and stay put? And perhaps look at extending home series to 4 Tests to include not just Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Sharjah, but add Qatar too.

Are you joking?
Did you see the crowd in the last test in Karachi where Younis made a triple century!

 

[ares1000]

One day cricket will return to Pakistan - 2020 is a realistic date - and that will be a welcome development. Nothing beats playing at home - it is home after all.

However, even then we should keep a link with UAE - perhaps it would host 1 test out of 3. Dubai, Lahore, Karachi - something like that as a schedule.

Or it could host 2/5 ODIs on a tour.

 

[Mamoon]

EXcellent post nothing like Pakistan

But I'm Indian.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistanis didn't bother to attend home Tests before. What makes you think they would start now?

Remember how empty the grounds were when you beat England 2-0 in 2005-6?

Would it be an option to keep your home Tests in the UAE, and play a few trial ODIs in Gwadar? On the basis that its probably the only town in Pakistan where you can guarantee the safety of both sides.

Because the people have been deprived for half a decade now and cricket returning to Pakistan would be a spectacle.

Yes with time once the novelty wears off, attendance for Test cricket will dwindle but that is no excuse for not playing matches at home because I hardly see a full house in UAE.

 

[London_Lahori]

I couldn't give a damn about where the opponents prefer to tour.

Screw them, do what our team prefers.

 

[Junaids]

I couldn't give a damn about where the opponents prefer to tour.

Screw them, do what our team prefers.

You TOTALLY miss the point.

Pakistan can expect England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to each play 3 Tests in the UAE every 4 years.

Even if Pakistan was declared safe - which it won't be in the next 50 years - they might each visit for 2 Tests every 8 years - if you were lucky.

It's the difference between those 4 teams

a) visiting the UAE for 24 Tests in 8 years or
b) visiting Pakistan for 8 Tests in 8 years.

Hardly anyone was visiting before the Lahore attacks. But the Sri Lankans had been given empty promises of absolute security, and given your failure to deliver that, no-one is going to visit Pakistan until at best 10 years after the last armed conflict with terrorists.

 

[Red Devil]

You TOTALLY miss the point.

Pakistan can expect England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to each play 3 Tests in the UAE every 4 years.

Even if Pakistan was declared safe - which it won't be in the next 50 years - they might each visit for 2 Tests every 8 years - if you were lucky.

It's the difference between those 4 teams

a) visiting the UAE for 24 Tests in 8 years or
b) visiting Pakistan for 8 Tests in 8 years.

Hardly anyone was visiting before the Lahore attacks. But the Sri Lankans had been given empty promises of absolute security, and given your failure to deliver that, no-one is going to visit Pakistan until at best 10 years after the last armed conflict with terrorists.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Even in the days when it was safe other teams hated to tour Pakistan and avoided it as much as they could. They just didn't like the place - cue thoughts of Ian Botham wanting to send his other-in-law.

This is one reason for getting cricket back to Pakistan isn't it - to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the visiting team. Whether it's the pitch, the climate, the food etc, you don't really want the opposition to enjoy themselves too much.

 

[Junaids]

I'm only trying to be honest.

For Pakistan to be accepted as safe in future after the Lahore attack, you have to understand what the process will be. Nobody will listen to assurances of safety, let alone believe them.

They will simply say: we will come ten years after the last armed conflict between the government and TTP/LEO/SSP/TJP etc. Anywhere in the country.

You haven't even got one day of calm under your belt yet, unfortunately, and as such you are even further away from a return to hosting international cricket than you were 5 years ago.

 

[Monsee]

But I'm Indian.

Good that you acknowledged the truth...it should now set you free!

One less poster with skeletons in the closet to deal with here

On OP, you can only get the real perspective of why playing at home is important if you grew up in the 70's/80's when crowds were great, we nurtured new talent by exposing them against visiting teams in side matches, and teams actually enjoyed the hospitality etc. as well!

The reason why most teams started complaining about Pak environment in the 2000's was because they were stuck in the hotel rooms with nothing else to do since the security situation on the streets was not very safe for foreign players to go out there. Aussies, although are a different story, they cried about touring Pakistan long before it actually became the norm by the other teams to do so as well

 

[London_Lahori]

People weren't visiting because they didn't believe it was safe.

 

[Bosch]

Op seem to know more about the Pakistani army and there wear abouts the us Pakistanis wow I say he reads too many one sided newspaper columns. I know it's a sad day for you but but its a happy day many on here I don't understand why you had to create a new thread on this topic where we have dozens like this already just read the replays in those you will get your answers. Hopefully sleep better at night eh...

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I concede that the UAE pitches have actually been good to us results wise, but there is nothing like playing at home even if test attendance isnt great. Also financially for the PCB it will be a lot better

 

[Mamoon]

Good that you acknowledged the truth...it should now set you free!

One less poster with skeletons in the closet to deal with here

On OP, you can only get the real perspective of why playing at home is important if you grew up in the 70's/80's when crowds were great, we nurtured new talent by exposing them against visiting teams in side matches, and teams actually enjoyed the hospitality etc. as well!

The reason why most teams started complaining about Pak environment in the 2000's was because they were stuck in the hotel rooms with nothing else to do since the security situation on the streets was not very safe for foreign players to go out there. Aussies, although are a different story, they cried about touring Pakistan long before it actually became the norm by the other teams to do so as well

Good to see you've crawled out of your little hole after a long time.

 

[Runner Up]

Whenever they will visit Pakistan NEXT time. They will see LOT of difference . Lot of developments have been done in Pakistan during the last decade and they will be surprised to see some liberalism in Pakistan especially in youth

 

[Monsee]

Good to see you've crawled out of your little hole after a long time.

That little hole is called 'Life' i.e. something you don't seem to have much anyway

Sorry for hitting a nerve there with my comment and making you so angry as to attack me directly!

 

[Silly Point]

I'm struggling - as a non-Pakistani - to understand the imperative for Pakistan to play its home Tests in Pakistan.

What? Where are you from then?

 

[Mamoon]

That little hole is called 'Life' i.e. something you don't seem to have much anyway

Sorry for hitting a nerve there with my comment and making you so angry as to attack me directly!

No hard feelings sir, I am actually a fan of your posts and how you touch nerves and pressure points of Indians. Our knees tremble when we see you online.

 

[Bosch]

What? Where are you from then?

Very good good Question sir I had forgotten to ask the same Question in my post. Yeah OP what is name of the world you live in......dia.

 

[Junaids]

Silly Point enquired after my nationality.

Well, I'm eligible to play Cricket for England, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia. Work it out!

Unfortunately I'm rubbish at cricket and not far off fifty years old. And I live in Australia!

What I really am is a cricket lover who enjoys any team which plays good cricket. And I was born to a Pakistani father and an English mother, in England. But of course my Dad had been born Indian. And he grew up in Dacca.

 

[Bosch]

For a cricketer comes a time where he needs to feel the cheers for him self and only for him self. He or she thrives on it as a sports person each time they walk on the field they expect that. You see current crop of Pakistani players haven't experienced it. This feeling I am talking about you only get it in your backyard (home) . This is normal bigger teams don't like touring smaller teams home they see that beneath them MANUNITED hates visiting WESTHAM (my team) not because of security issues size of the stadium facilities these sort of things. With pakistan players especially the new ones they have yet to taste that feeling every sports personality deserves. Uae is a good option for now but expensive & crowd is a bit selfish they only come on there day's off or when they find out Pak is doing good. You see the days you remember of Pakistani stadiums empty during tests are over my whole family + my extended families love tests & we are in UK that's how most families are in Pak cricket is a family thing in Pak. You don't get to see the crowds in Pakistani stadiums in recent t20 national leagues.
In Australia not every test and every ODIs is sold out apart from ashes that's only if Australia is doing well in the series otherwise Aussies bother turning up even if they have bought there tickets in advance. Every team needs home advantage because no one is going to appreciate there skills more then home.

 

[IAJ]

This is one reason for getting cricket back to Pakistan isn't it - to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the visiting team. Whether it's the pitch, the climate, the food etc, you don't really want the opposition to enjoy themselves too much.

I disagree a bit. On the field you have to make the life difficult for the visiting teams, but not off the field. But the visiting team should accept there are cultural diffrerences and try to make the best of it.

And there is nothing like real home advantage.

And OP, the teams not coming to Pakistan also hurt the young talent of Pakistan. If it was safe Pakistan could have arranged several A team matches. I am sure team like Aus, Eng and SA would have been interested to send their fringe players to get more exposure to SC conditions. And you could have alleways invited SL and Bangladesh.

 

[DawoodChaudhry]

is best for pak cricket to play in the dubai bcos the support is there and many friends with me also went to dubai so pak ppls are there and support the team so its the best to play cricket there

 

[Fallen King]

It doesnt matter whether the Test format is played in UAE or Pakistan. Pakistani Test matches is always boring especially when the pitches is prepared poor. This pitch was okay, but still flat. Lucky for us that Australian cricketers struggled against spin.

 

[Bilal7]

I'm sorry but we should be making life as horrible as possible for touring teams not easier. We should be looking out for what our players want and they want to play at home, in front of their families and on pitches over which they have full control and have played all their lives.

The attendance would be more than what is in the UAE and wold reduce costs for the PCB like you said. If Australia don't want to play in Pakistan, then we can make exceptions for them but Pakistan should be made our home base ASAP.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Bump. Brother [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] now talks about Pakistan playing it's home season in south Africa. How times change

 

[Manunited18]

I'm struggling - as a non-Pakistani - to understand the imperative for Pakistan to play its home Tests in Pakistan.

Even in the days when it was safe other teams hated to tour Pakistan and avoided it as much as they could. They just didn't like the place - cue thoughts of Ian Botham wanting to send his other-in-law.

But in the final decade before the appalling attack on the Sri Lankan tourists no Pakistani spectators were bothering to attend home Tests anyway, even on weekends. The crowds were a joke.

But visiting teams seem to genuinely like touring the UAE. The hotels are great, the street scenes are not confronting, their wives and girlfriends view it as a tour behind only Australia, South Africa and the West Indies in its desirability.

And in terms of cricket politics it is a very smart "home" too, with the ICC now based in Dubai. Pakistan is almost its host Board.

I understand that it costs money to the PCB. But the other major nations will be happy to visit the UAE far, far more frequently than they would ever have visited Pakistan, even if it was safe - which it isn't.

So why not just accept reality and stay put? And perhaps look at extending home series to 4 Tests to include not just Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Sharjah, but add Qatar too.

Nothing better than performing at your home venues, you stated players don't like touring pakistan, well I've heard the likes of hussain, gough, trescothick, west indies players andcsouthcafricans that they enjoyed touring pakistan, I'm a British Pakistani , but I won't go to the level of a uncle tom to down play the country

 

[Artaxerxes]

Pakistan should find another country to play its home series.The pitches in UAE are not proper cricket pitches.There is no bounce or swing,its too hot and the stadiums are empty.Playing on these pitches will not improve our cricket.England would have been a better option but cricket can only be played during the summer in England.

 

[Manunited18]

Pakistan should find another country to play its home series.The pitches in UAE are not proper cricket pitches.There is no bounce or swing,its too hot and the stadiums are empty.Playing on these pitches will not improve our cricket.England would have been a better option but cricket can only be played during the summer in England.

Englandwould have been a fantastic venue but the spot fixing in 2010 has lost the trust of the ecb

 

[barah_admi]

Terrible OP from Junaids, who nowadays is a better poster than some. Unless I am thinking of someone else.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Apart from tests played in fasialabad, tests in general played in pakistan interms of attendances werent great.

Most teams arent going to want to risk playing tests in pakistan for security reasons. Right now its a case of play odi/t20s in pakistan, short series and can be done quickly. In reality for now test cricket will have to remain in UAE.