Pakistan coach Waqar Younis says the lack of home internationals is a major hurdle to his young team’s hopes of climbing up the international cricket rankings. As no test sides have wanted to tour Pakistan since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team in Lahore more than two years ago, the team hasn’t had a choice but to hit the road.
“It’s tough. It’s never easy. We’re always touring and playing on different surfaces and we don’t know the pitches and conditions,” he said. “It’s very difficult to adjust every month or so. It’s four venues I’ve done in less than a year. You need to play home to get the confidence of the youngsters. That’s not happening so what we’re trying to do is taking the youngsters on the tour and trying to prepare them, which is the hardest part in cricket.”
Waqar also squashed rumors about a rift between him and Shahid Afridi, who was replaced as one-day captain for the Ireland series and has since withdrawn from the squad. “Misbah is great character. I am not saying that Afridi is not because he’s done a really wonderful job in the last six to eight months he’s been captain,” Waqar said.
“I don’t have any problem with anyone. It is sad how things are being written and all the issues being printed. We want to improve cricket and this is what we get. It is not fair, I guess.”