As the Pakistan cricket captain appeals to forces within Pak to help save cricket in Pakistan, wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, in the void created in Pak cricket by teams refusing to tour Pak, and has appealed to old foe India to help save Pak cricket. According to the cricket news, Akmal was quoted as having said that India could save international cricket in Pak by agreeing to play there.

"Pakistan cricket is in its worst phase. Not a single foreign team is willing to play here. It has certainly affected our players' motivation apart from the financial losses," he said. "Indian cricketers like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Irfan Pathan enjoy huge fan following in Pakistan. It will be a great help if India reconsiders its decision not to tour Pakistan. It will certainly help bring Pakistan cricket back on track," he added.

He said that not only was the popularity of the game among fans suffering, the morale of the team was also be negatively impacted by international teams refusing to tour Pak. "It is a great loss not only for our cricketers but cricket lovers as well. They could not see their favourite players playing here. It is regretful," he said.

Akmal said that even domestic cricket was suffering from lack of interest from viewers and fans, and in the event players were losing motivation. "If India, Australia and South Africa continue to avoid Pakistan than cricket will not survive here. Domestic tournaments do not get spectators. Stadiums are empty during the ongoing domestic one-day tournament. Players do not have any motivation," he said.

Akmal also said that having matches and series at neutral venues was not a solution either since, that will have a negative impact. "PCB will get money from TV rights and title sponsorship but that is not enough. Financial losses will affect domestic structure in Pakistan cricket and we won't get good cricketers. So it will have long term impacts," he said.

Alas for Akmal however, at this time, countries like Australia who have long refused to tour Pak will only agree to neutral venues and it does not seem likely that any team will agree to tour Pak any time soon.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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