‘Pakistanis playing county cricket should enhance country’s image abroad’

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Islamabad, June 19(ANI): Pakistani cricketers such as Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal, who are set to play county cricket in England in summer, have got a great opportunity to learn the game and also to be ambassadors of Pakistan, former pacer Mohammad Akram has said.

“Looking at the quick young bowlers in Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan, who have both recently joined the county circuit, I would tell them that they have been given a great opportunity to learn cricket,” PakPassion.net quoted Akram, as saying.

“At the same time it is a great opportunity to be ambassadors and show the world how ‘nice’ the people of Pakistan are. I am really happy several Pakistanis are playing county cricket, but they must realise this is a responsibility to enhance our image,” he added.

Akram, who himself played for many years on the county circuit for the likes of Surrey and Northamptonshire, advised these players to “give your all for 1-2 years and learn as much as possible. Use what you have learnt and pass on this knowledge to your fellow Pakistani cricketers and developing young cricketers.”

“Playing county is not that important. Playing for your country is more important. If you do play for a county, a couple years and that should be it,” he added. (ANI)