Pakistan’s nomadic cricketers need to resume home internationals to avoid the risk of stress-related illness brought about by long absences away from their families, skipper Misbah-ul Haq says.
Foreign sides have shunned tours of Pakistan since Sri Lanka’s team bus came under attack by militants in Lahore in March 2009, forcing the Pakistanis to play all their series away from home including on neutral turf in the United Arab Emirates.
But, invoking the depression suffered by England’s Jonathan Trott, Pakistan’s Test and one-day captain said the situation was becoming untenable.
“You come back from a tour and hardly get time to settle, then you are off again for a series. And since there are no home games, it’s taking its toll on the players,” Misbah, 39, told AFP.
“I salute my players for showing the mental strength to overcome home sickness. Being away from their families, it’s a really tough ask,” he said.
A new generation of players such as Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad and Junaid Khan has never played international cricket at home.
Misbah said all his players were desperate to play on home grounds, and added that “this is also affecting our young and upcoming fans and players who don’t get to see international matches”.
“How can they learn without watching matches on home grounds?” said Misbah, who appealed for sympathy from all concerned.
“I have said this before and I reiterate that the International Cricket Council and fellow cricketing countries should try and find out a way.
“Pakistan Cricket Board and our government are giving full assurances, so there should be a lenient view of our country because a whole generation is going to suffer because of no cricket in Pakistan.”
Last year, Bangladesh twice initially agreed to tour Pakistan but later backed out on security fears.
Pakistan are now back in the UAE for a series against Sri Lanka comprising two Twenty20s, five one-dayers and three Tests. The first T20 game takes place in Dubai later on Wednesday.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE finals day
Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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EU's%2020-point%20migration%20plan
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88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
