I really wish to play again in Pakistan: Shakib Al Hasan

As the Pakistan Super League (PSL) inches towards the business end with the play-offs right around the corner the anticipation and excitement of the final being played in Lahore is rising as well. Despite there being a constant terror threat the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hell bent at hosting the biggest night of the season at home. While a majority of foreign players have shown their reservations for it Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who is a part of the Peshawar Zalmi is eager to play again in Pakistan.

However, Shakib will fly back home along with his Bangladesh teammates for national duty on February 28, while the final is scheduled to be played on March 5. He was a part of the Bangladeshi team that toured Pakistan back in 2008 and though they were whitewashed 5-0 in the ODI series the allrounder had a good time as he scored a hundred and also took a Man of the Match award in one of the games.

“I last played in Pakistan in 2008; it was an amazing experience for me,” Shakib was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. “The crowd, the ground, the environment, the fans and the atmosphere were all fabulous. I really wish to play again in Pakistan once things get better.”

The tournament being played in Pakistan hasn’t had the enormous support it would have enjoyed if played in the home country and Shakib agrees to that. “If the PSL was held In Pakistan, then it would have garnered much more passion and excitement than it has here in the UAE,” he said. “Right now the situation is a bit difficult back in Pakistan but I hope someday this all will get better and Pakistan will start hosting international tournaments and series again.”

Also read- Shahid Afridi bowls his wife over with last over heroics

Having played for Karachi in the previous edition, where the team underperformed the expectations this time Shakib is with Peshawar and they are at the top of the table and will get two opportunities to make it to the final. And he feels the level of cricket in the tournament matches other leagues at par.

“It is a great success for Pakistan cricket; it is almost to the standard of other T20 leagues taking place around the world,” he said. “The Pakistan Cricket Board must be lauded for holding such a quality tournament. All the leagues around the world give you a chance to interact with players from other countries but few succeed in creating the kind of environment that the PSL has.”

“All the dressing rooms around the world are different, with different mind-sets and atmospheres but what we have here with Peshawar Zalmi is tremendous and that shows out there on the pitch.”

Darren Sammy might have been out of favour from his home board and was never considered for the West Indies national team after leading the team to their second title win in the World T20 2016 but Shakib was full of praises for Sammy who is also the captain of the Peshwar team. “The kind of calm environment, where everyone knows their job, helps a player relax,” he said. “Sammy has the ability to cheer anyone up and everyone is so friendly in the dressing room. Our interactions with Pakistani players are terrific. It’s like I am playing with my home team rather than in a foreign league.”