No home comforts for Pakistan
Skipper welcomes suggestion of world XI to tour his country
Last Updated: August 18, 2010 1:27am
Butt: Encouraged by suggestions of a world XI tour
Pakistan captain Salman Butt admits his players are suffering for not having the chance to play international cricket on home soil.
No national team has travelled to play in Pakistan since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore back in March 2009.
Instead Pakistan have had to play 'home' game at neutral venues, including taking on Australia on English soil earlier this summer.
Butt, who took over as skipper midway through the two-Test series against the Australians following the resignation of Shahid Afridi, feels critics should take into account that his side have had to travel abroad just to get games.
Big factor
"Anyone who has played international cricket will know that most sides gather most of their averages and best performances playing at home in their own conditions. Pakistan no longer have that," he said.
"This is something that has to be considered because it is a big factor.
"It is an advantage Pakistan has not got any longer and everyone should have this in their mind when they talk about a Pakistan team not performing.
"This is the only team in the world who are always playing away from home in foreign conditions."
England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke, who also chairs the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, has announced plans to send a world XI to play in the country "in due course".
"It would be wonderful to have any kind of international cricket take place in Pakistan," Butt added.
"If players could come and do this favour for Pakistan cricket. It would be wonderful.
"People in Pakistan are cricket lovers and they have their heroes not only from Pakistan but from around the world. They love watching them so if that could happen it would be great for Pakistan cricket."
Salman Butt
