“Welcome England,” says skipper Babar Azam, while talking to Nasser Hussain in a YouTube interview.
The nation looked forward to watching Babar lead the way in Rawalpindi, where the first test between Pakistan and England was expected to start today, December 1 -- before 14 members of the England squad called in ill. A stomach bug has hit them. They were experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.
It is unfortunate that start of the much-awaited test match series has taken a slight hit. “We don't think it is food-related,” said Joe Root. “In fact the chef is ill as well, so I don't think it is the food.”
England cricket team is touring Pakistan after a gap of 16 years. They last played in Pakistan in 2005 and were due to visit last year, but cancelled the tour at short notice after New Zealand pulled out of a tour over safety concerns. Planning for all eventualities, security threats, injuries and recoveries, this time they have come with their own chef – “to optimise ourselves and be in the right position to perform,” Root said.
In the current situation, we sincerely share their pain and discomfort.
The start of the match depends on how fast they recover. Still, senior sports journalist Khalid Hussain said, “The viral sickness affecting some of the key players including skipper Ben Stokes can possibly have some impact on the team's performance in the first test. But this England team has several battle hardened players and I won't be surprised if they put this episode aside and go all out to draw first blood in Rawalpindi.”
There are always usual upsets and unusual injuries in the game. Pakistan has a poor record of protecting cricketers from viruses, bomb scares and terrorist attacks. To keep Pakistan’s scoreboard of international home series ticking, it must ensure the game goes on. The next ball must be bowled for the next boundary to follow.
“The viral sickness affecting some of the key players including skipper Ben Stokes can possibly have some impact on the team's performance in the first test,” says sports journalist Khalid Hussain. “But this England team has several battle hardened players and I won't be surprised if they put this episode aside and go all out to draw first blood in Rawalpindi.”
“Pakistan is certainly one of the most welcoming destinations for visiting teams in the cricket world. Our hospitality is legendary,” said Hussain. “But unfortunately visiting teams like England and Australia do face problems here like the one currently troubling England.”
Hosting a series in Pakistan is quite a task. According to a PCB member, who preferred to remain anonymous, some 12,000 heavily armed policemen are guarding the England team during their stay in Rawalpindi. “What can we do if players fall sick; get swept by a bug, maybe, on an airplane? These are unforeseen events. We are not going to throw the test match is disarray,” he added.
The match will be played. In fact, “One must appreciate the England cricket team for helping Pakistan out in times of distress,” said Asha’ar Rehman, senior journalist and cricket enthusiast.
The Pakistan cricket team was forced to play home series on neutral grounds after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore in 2009. However, Pakistan has to a large extent restored its status as friendly location for international cricket, with Sri Lankan, South African, West Indian, Australian and England teams visiting in the last three years. Earlier this year, Australia completed a successful tour of Pakistan in nearly 25 years.
Pakistan is expected to host 10 test playing nations between 2023 and 2027. It will “host the Asia Cup 2023 and triangular series in February 2025 in the lead up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, respectively,” PCB announced.
“There has to be a start — a resumption — somewhere. You cannot banish cricket forever for fear of security,” Rehman added.