ISLAMABAD: With the influx of Twenty-20 tournaments around the world, former Pakistan pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan believes Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should also organise Pakistan Premier League (PPL) even if they have to host the tournament outside the country.
"I believe the PCB have been looking to organise a tournament similar to the BPL and IPL. Unfortunately the problem we have at the moment is that international teams are reluctant to come and play cricket in Pakistan and fans in Pakistan are being deprived of high quality cricket," Rana told PakPassion.net in an interview.
Rana said that once Bangladesh tours Pakistan this year in April than other countries will also start touring Pakistan.
"Once international tours start taking place in Pakistan, then that will pave the way for tournaments such as the PPL to commence. If it cannot be organised in Pakistan, then yes the overseas option is also one to think about," he said.
Rana, who was a member of Dhaka Gladiators squad winners of the inaugural edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a successful tournament.
"The BPL was very enjoyable, I had a really good time and it was good to be playing against a number of Pakistani cricketers. Some of them performed really well in Bangladesh, including Mohammad Sami, Ahmed Shehzad, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir," he said.
Rana who is representing Wapda in the ongoing National One Day Cup division one, said it will be a high standard of cricket, a very tough competition. All of the best departmental teams are in Division One and I'm confident that Wapda can do very well this time around.
Rana said that Wapda reached the semi-finals last time around and he thinks the team can do better this season.
Rana last played for Pakistan 2 years ago in a Twenty-20 international in Australia. Given Pakistan's recent dismal performances in the shorter formats, some observers were keen for Rana to be given a recall.
"I was hopeful after the series in Bangladesh last year that I might be given a chance. My name was being mentioned but it never materialised, but never mind, I wasn't disheartened or disappointed." "I know that if I am recalled I will perform to the best of my ability and I hope that I'm given another chance by the selectors," he concluded.
