ISLAMABAD – Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) captain and president KumarSangakkara said on Thursday that the players were “really, really impressedand very, very moved and we understand very, very easily how much passionthere is and how the lack of international cricket is not a great thing forPakistan,” a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
The former Sri Lanka captain said that it is always special to revisit thematches he has played in Pakistan and the MCC team was very surprised andmoved by the welcome they received in the country.
“We never expected such a big crowd for a first game against the [Lahore]Qalandars. When we got to the ground, we had almost 19,000 people, hungryto watch some cricket.”
The MCC team arrivedlinkfora week-long tour on February 13 — in their first visit after 48 years — toplay one 50-over and three 20-over matches with domestic teams in thecountry including Pakistan Shaheens, Northern, Lahore Qalandars and MultanSultans.
“The message we will be taking back is about the warmth of the people, thewelcome of the fabulous spectators who came to watch cricket, the passionthe players and people have for it and our own experiences of playing hereand travelling about in Lahore,” said Sangakkara.
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“We would love for teams to consider coming here so that internationalcricket can finally come back to Pakistan in full force.
“It’s important that, when you are in a country on a tour, you’re notconfined to a hotel, but you can go around and enjoy the city and thecountry you’re in,” he added.
The MCC team during its week-long tour visited the Lahore Gymkhana golfcourse, the Lahore Fort and had dinner at the British High Commission.
