Amla says excited to be part of Pakistan tour
It is about trying to get international cricket back to Pakistan which is important for world cricket, he says
September 10, 2017
KARACHI: With the World XI squad set to land in Pakistan later tonight, the master batsman from South Africa Hashim Amla says that he’s excited to be part of this special occasion.
Amla, 34, is one of five South African cricketers who have consented to be part of 14-members World XI team coming to Pakistan for a series of three T20Is.
“I am very excited (to be visiting Pakistan). We all are really excited to be part of this tour, to be part of something special and be part of brining cricket back to Pakistan,” Amla said in Dubai ahead of his flight to Lahore.
“We played against Pakistan in CT, they are very good team. They’ve always been a formidable team in T20s, everybody is going to enjoy the competition,” he added.
The former South African captain said that his South Africa team mate of Pakistan origin, Hashim Amla, didn’t have to do much convincing to him to visit Pakistan.
“Imran didn’t have to do any convincing. Once we got go-ahead from ICC and our board then we didn’t need too much of convincing,” Amla said.
Amla added that the series is more than just cricket and it is for a cause to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.
“For all the players, it is about being part of something bigger and trying to get international cricket back to Pakistan which is important for world cricket,” Amla emphasised.
“Hope it will help brining cricket back in Pakistan, slowly and safely back to Pakistan. It will be back for world cricket. Pakistan has been a major role player in cricket fraternity,” he said.
The South African “run machine” added that Pakistani supporters are fantastic and whenever he has played against Pakistan, it seems for him to be playing a team at its home ground, even at neutral venues.
Amla said that he has good memories attached with visiting Pakistan and hoping for a good contest in upcoming matches.
“I have good memories in Pakistan. Been there to play Test series and we won that series. I have great memories of playing against Pakistan and in Pakistan,” he said.
