Could Pakistan choose to make Singapore or China their new cricketing home?

For the cricket loving populace in Pakistan, not being able to watch and support their beloved national team in person has been a prolonged anguish. But, finally, international cricket is set to re-emerge in Pakistan with Zimbabwe earmarked to tour the volatile country in late May for a short limited-overs series played exclusively in Lahore. Pakistan has not played top-level international cricket in their own country since 2009 after a terrorist attack in Lahore injured several Sri Lankan cricketers and killed six policemen and two civilians. Many regular Pakistani players have never played at home, including Umar Akmal who has played more than 100 ODIs. A generation of international cricketers have never been tested on Pakistani pitches. Australia’s last tour of Pakistan was in 1998 under the captaincy of Mark Taylor, several eras in the past. [caption id=“attachment_2230634” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Pakistan team training before the second Test against Bangladesh. AFP[/caption] Not having a home ground has helped cement Pakistan’s plight from a powerhouse to near irrelevancy. Pakistan played 22 Tests in Australia from 1976 to 1999 but only six since 2000. Painful corruption scandals have deepened the downward spiral and reduced Pakistan to one of the dregs of international cricket, with only scattered remnants of the madcap and always entertaining team remaining. It is pleasing Pakistan will belatedly play on home terrain, albeit in a tournament lasting a mere week. If the Zimbabwe series is a success, more international cricket could be played there with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly in discussions with the Netherlands, Ireland and Nepal. But Test cricket and long meaningful tours still look unlikely, as most of the Full Members are fearful of the continued instability in Pakistan. Which beggars the question – will Pakistan continue to be based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? Should they instead look elsewhere in a bid to start a new chapter and in the process help foster cricket’s growth in new frontiers? In the UAE, Test matches, in contrast to T20 games, attract low crowds which are attributed to thousands of guest workers – many from Pakistan - and passionate cricket fans unable to attend matches played during the day. Whatever the reason, it is evident Pakistan’s infiltration into the UAE hasn’t been a resounding success. There is growing momentum for cricket to be expanded in the aftermath of the Associates’ success and newfound popularity during the World Cup. Perhaps it’s only anecdotally, but there does appear genuine support for cricket’s expansion into unfamiliar terrain. Former Perth local cricketer Charlie Burke works closely with developing cricket in China during his role as Hong Kong national cricket coach. He says China has untapped cricket potential and believes a Pakistan team based in Guangzhou would be a major fillip for the sport there. “I guarantee if Pakistan played in Guangzhou there would be 10,000 people going to the matches… there are lots of Pakistani and Bangladeshi living there and in nearby Hong Kong,” he says. Burke says informal discussions on Pakistan being based in China have occurred previously with the PCB but did not progress formally. “It is very sad Pakistan can’t play Tests at home but it provides an opportunity to grow the game,” he says. “Pakistan playing in Guangzhou could grow the game in China, which would be massive for the game. For cricket to get that global audience and reach, it needs China. We can’t just keep playing in our own backyards. Let’s give more people in these countries an opportunity to watch live cricket.” Another potential salivating destination for Pakistan is Singapore, which is still basking in its new $1.3billion (SGD) national stadium capable of holding 55,000 spectators. The stadium, which opened last year and has already hosted the Brazilian national football team, is the centrepiece of the dazzling Singapore Sports Hub situated on the south coast of the island. Singapore’s opulent skyline can be seen from some sections of the grandstands, while the stadium boasts notable aspects including a retractable roof and an ability to emit cool air to provide relief for spectators sweltering amid the country’s renowned humidity. The stadium can host multiple sports to international standards, including cricket where a drop-in pitch would be used. Given its prime geographic location in the heart of Asia, Singapore is a commercially appealing destination. It also boasts a prominent multicultural society, including a healthy demographic from the sub-continent. A PCB spokesman confirmed Pakistan had been interested in potentially being based in Singapore. “We have had some discussions with Singapore authorities of playing cricket in Singapore,” he says. “We have also had detailed plans of looking at Malaysia as a venue but there are factors that we do consider while finalizing our home tours abroad. They include the venue and operational costs, the time difference from Pakistan, the size of the expat population in the host country and the number of international standard ICC approved grounds there.” The spokesman said the UAE “currently presents a good viable option” but admitted the PCB would “continue looking at venues”. There have been several ODI events staged in Singapore, most memorably a tri-series in 1996 featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, made famous for Sanath Jayasuriya blazing the then fastest 50-over ton from 48 deliveries. But no international fixtures have been played on Singaporean turf since 2000. But with the advent of its new national stadium, which has attracted interest from diverse sports including Australian football, Singaporean cricket chiefs are hoping it can reinvigorate cricket in a country first introduced to the sport in the 1830s. Singapore Cricket Association president Imran Khwaja says discussions with the PCB happened two years ago but believes the time is right for renewed talks. “Singapore has the facilities now and there is a lot of scope and potential here,” he says. “But Pakistan need to show the willingness.” Singapore Sports Hub communications manager Sam Eatwell revealed bringing the Indian Premier League to Singapore had been “talked about” and believed international cricket could be lured to the major stadium. “The stadium is here to attract world class events and we want to be a gateway destination for sports,” he says. “We have a massive Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi expat community, so we wouldn’t have a problem filling a crowd.” Singaporean culture has often been derided for being absorbed, even obsessed, with education and business excellence, resulting in the detriment of the arts. But the Singaporean government has placed more emphasis on sports, in a bid to attract tourists and ensure its citizens don’t become disenchanted with drudgery, according to Eatwell. “In the early 2000s there was a push to invest more into sport to make the community healthier and more active, and the sports hub is the culmination of that,” he says. “Singapore don’t do things half-heartedly, so we will show that we can bring international teams here.” Maybe Pakistan can start playing intermittently at home, while continuing to be mainly based from the UAE. But there appears several intriguing options to reinvigorate their cricket, while advocating the sport’s growth beyond traditional boundaries. It will be interesting to see in which direction Pakistan decides to go.