Former Kiwi coach says New Zealand should visit Pakistan

Former New Zealand domestic cricket coach and current coach of Pakistan's women cricket team Mark Coles has said that the Black Caps should visit Pakistan in November this year, adding that he feels much safer here than in his own homeland.

"I have a young family. I have two daughters and my wife back home in New Zealand," Coles said, quoted Stuff.co.nz. "I don't have any concerns for my safety here. To be honest with you, I feel safer here in this environment than I would on some streets in Auckland."

Coles, joined Pakistan women cricket last year and is one of a number of international coaches involved with Pakistan cricket, including South African Mickey Arthur.

Coles applauded Pakistanis for their passion for game and was of the view that the tour would be extremely successful if New Zealand visits the country. “I've never felt threatened here. The Pakistani people are lovely people and they absolutely love New Zealanders," Coles said.

"They're very passionate people. You have to understand, if New Zealand were to tour here it would mean the world to Pakistan's people. They would fill the stadiums four times over. If New Zealand played 25 games here, they'd all be sell-outs. They're cricket mad but most of the kids here only ever get to watch cricket on television. It would mean the world to them to watch their team in person."

Coles believes that a visit by one of the top cricketing nations to Pakistan would be followed by the rest of the world. "It would be great if New Zealand were to be brave and come over. It will take one of the top nations [NZ, Australia, England or South Africa] coming over here for the others to realise it's okay."

New Zealand is due to play three tests, five ODIs and three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan in November.