After just securing his new post as the managing director of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the England-born Pakistani Wasim Khan has overwhelmed. He has the big vision to restart the international cricket in Pakistan regularly and for that, he is targeting the upcoming Australia ODI series.
The 47-year-old former English County cricketer Wasim Khan had two options – to work as MD for England men’s cricket team or MD for PCB, and he has chosen what his heart said, despite knowing the fact that he will be lesser paid and have to work in more challenging condition. He claimed that passion has led him to take this kind of tough decision.
Talking about taking this decision, Wasim told according to ESPNcricinfo, “My friends noticed that, when I talked about the Pakistan role, I was much more animated and excited. I knew they were both great opportunities. But the chance to make a positive contribution to Pakistan was overwhelming. It’s my passion. It’s been my passion for years.”
Since the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in 2009, Pakistan’s home cricket has hugely suffered. While their home venue shifted in UAE, Pakistan had zero international matches until 2015. Since 2015, only a few overseas countries have played the short limited-overs international series in Pakistan.
In May 2015, Zimbabwe had the successful tour in Pakistan where they had played 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is. In 2017, Pakistan organised a total of four more international matches (three T20Is against World XI and one T20I against Sri Lanka). In this year, Pakistan again successfully organised three T20I series against Windies. Apart from this, Pakistan is also organising the small but very important parts of Pakistan Super League (PSL) where some foreign cricketers have agreed to play cricket in Pakistan and have enjoyed it too.
Since the terrorist attack incident in 2009, Pakistan’s domestic cricket has also suffered hugely. Still, Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure has not been sorted out in the proper way.
Just joining as the PCB MD in the early this month, Wasim has already sorted out some of his top priorities areas to work immediately.
Wasim said on this, “I think there are three or four areas on which I will be judged. The first is restructuring domestic cricket in Pakistan, the second is seeing a return of more high-profile fixtures – particularly international fixtures – to the country and the third is rationalising the headcount at the PCB. Those are some of my main areas of focus.”
Talking about the high-profile international fixtures in Pakistan, Wasim has the first target to convince the Australian cricket team to travel to Pakistan as soon as possible. Australia has a schedule to play a five-match bilateral ODI series against Pakistan in UAE in March 2019 but Wasim is working to organise the series in Pakistan by offering the highest level of security. Since 1998, Australia has never travelled to Pakistan.
When he was asked how he would approach Australia to visit Pakistan, he told ESPNcricinfo, “I will ask the question. We will continue to offer them the highest level security and, if they have any concerns, we will act to meet them.”
After Pakistan failed to organise the inaugural PSL in 2016, they organised only the final in PSL 2017 and the last three games in PSL 2018. Now, Pakistan has earned more opportunities to organize the tournament after their successful initiative as the country will organise the last eight games of PSL 2019.
If Australia visits Pakistan at the end of the ongoing international cricket season, it will be a big victory for the country. However, Wasim claimed that he will approach the other international cricket boards too and also hear their demands.
Wasim added “It will probably be a process of baby steps. I need to sit down with other boards and ask them: where are the gaps in our plans that worry you? What can we do to assure you? What will it take to get you to come back? I want to hear what concerns they have and find a way of meeting them.”
The passionate Wasim is very hopeful on Pakistan’s cricketing future as he believes that more foreign players visit in Pakistan will help to normalise the nation’s cricket.
Wasim said, “We have excellent facilities. We have a great passion for the game. If we can get more foreign players coming to Pakistan more often, hopefully we can normalise playing in the country again.”
