Wasim Akram calls for reciprocal England tour - "You boys owe Pakistan cricket"

Wasim Akram has called on England to tour Pakistan in 2022, returning the favour as it were since Pakistan are on tour in the UK at present despite the risks in play because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"You boys owe Pakistan cricket, and the country, a lot, with the boys coming over here. They've been here almost two and half months in the bio-secure environment," Akram told Sky Sports Cricket. "So if everything goes well, England should tour Pakistan. I promise you they'll get looked after on and off the field there and every game will be a packed house."

England have not travelled to Pakistan since their tour in 2005-06, due to security concerns following the attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009 that had halted all international cricket in Pakistan for several years. However, following a tour by Zimbabwe in 2015, international cricket has begun to slowly return to Pakistan, and the entire PSL 2020 took place in the country, although it couldn't be played to a finish with the Covid-19 pandemic halting it near its final stages.

International cricket only resumed with West Indies touring England, with the ongoing tour by Pakistan following quickly on its heels. Both series have reportedly saved the ECB from sustaining massive losses in what could have been a summer without cricket on television.

But while there has been a steadier stream of cricket involving international players taking place in Pakistan, the team continues to play several of their home games in the United Arab Emirates, which has served as their home base since the 2009 attacks.

England are scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2022 to play three Tests and five ODIs, a series that would have likely taken place in the UAE, but Akram pointed to the experience of England players in the PSL to build a case for having the games in Pakistan.

"The English players were there for the Pakistan Super League in our team, Karachi Kings - Alex Hales and Chris Jordan. They loved it, they enjoyed it, they got looked after beautifully, so the PSL is a step in the right direction," Akram said.

Earlier this month, England coach Chris Silverwood had said he would have "no problem" leading a tour to Pakistan.