KARACHI: Green Shirts’ skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, while addressing a Presser here, ahead of ODIs against Sri Lanka to be played in the Metropolis, held that cricket was incomplete sans Pakistan.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, pointing out that the country’s security situation has improved, urged the cricket-playing countries to commence frequently playing matches in Pakistan: “My message to the cricketing world on this occasion is simple: please come and support us in resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.”

Thanking Sri Lankan team for visiting Pakistan Sarfaraz Ahmed maintained that the PCB and the LEA’s had worked really hard in every city improve law and order situation. He pointed out that the country had been hosting cricket for two years on regular basis and now it was up to the other boards to realize that Pakistan was able to manage security at the top level for international cricket.  

Pointing towards the players who after playing in Pakistan returned with great memories Sarfaraz Ahmed said that they acted as the ambassadors informing the folks back home that it is a safe place for cricket: “We will have international cricket back at our home grounds.”

Commenting on the visiting cricketers he said: “It is an international team and you can’t be relaxed against any international team, especially in white-ball cricket. It is going to be a good contest and we will give our best against Sri Lanka…It is an important occasion for me and for the other players as well. I will be leading my team at my home ground and I expect good response from the fans.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed who would be playing at number five in the series told that head coach Misbah-ul-Haq had encouraged cricketers to play their natural game. He hoped that the players would not let him down.  He said it was easier to proclaim that: “We are going to score 400 or 500 runs. You need to put in a lot of hard work to do that, and it is important for your top three, four batsmen to score big runs if you want to post a big total on board.”