New Zealand tour of Pakistan: Coles satisfied with security

Pakistan Women’s Team head coach Mark Coles says New Zealand Cricket has contacted him and seek input regarding security situation in Pakistan, as PCB requested Kiwis to play a T20 in the country.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had recently requested Australia and New Zealand boards to tour Pakistan for at least one Twenty20 international.

Cricket Australia immediately rejected PCB’s request, however, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is carrying out ‘due diligence’ after a request to play a T20 game in Pakistan.

Talking to Business Recorder Mark Coles said that New Zealand Cricket has made contact with him and seek updates regarding security situation of the country.

“They asked me about my input regarding the security situation in Pakistan and I have given them a positive response for their tour of Pakistan,” he said.

“I am have been here for long and I haven’t faced any untoward incident yet. In New Zealand we have a population of about 4 million and still we have some issues, and here a population hovers 200 million so there are some issues because everyone is not the same.”

Pakistan cricket have suffered allot in nine years without international cricket. But now it is the time that International cricket should fully return to the country, Coles said.

The world is not safe place now, so we should accept it and move ahead, he added.

The head coach further said, “See once men teams start touring Pakistan, then we will invite women teams to come and play here.”

It is needless to mention here that New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 2003, the year after a suicide bombing outside their Karachi hotel killed 15 people.

International fixtures have been slowly returning to Pakistan, with Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, a World XI and West Indies all visiting the country without incident.

Commenting on the recently concluded Departmental T20 Women’s Cricket Championship, he said we have organized a great tournament here in Karachi. It was quite fascinating to see school and college girls coming here in the stadium and watched the final match.

“I am quite surprised to see such great talent in Pakistan. It will now be difficult to select a team for upcoming Asia Cup. But I will try my best to find the best possible combination for the tournament.”

Praising the standard of Pakistan women, he said day by day they are raising the bar. We performed really well, but we fell short in New Zealand. However, we have good results in Sri Lanka.

“I have already set my sites of 10 to 15 girls, who would be playing in the Asia Cup or representing Pakistan in near future,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that, The 2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup will start from June 03 in Malaysia.