I feel safer here than on some streets in Auckland: Pakistan women’s team coach

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan women’s team coach Mark Coles has urged the New Zealand cricket team to tour the country later this year.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Wednesday that they’ve received an offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a T20I series in the country in November later this year.

They’ve also confirmed that the board is considering all options, and will decide after complete ‘due diligence’.

If NZC will approve PCB’s proposal, it will be the first time the Black Caps will tour Pakistan since 2003.

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The Men in Green have played most of their home cricket in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Sri Lanka team bus attack in 2009.

Coles, who is also from New Zealand, revealed in an interview that he feels safe while staying in Pakistan.

“I have a young family. I have two daughters, and my wife back home in New Zealand,” said Coles on the phone from Karachi as per The Domino’s Post. “I don’t have any concerns for my safety here. To be honest with you, I feel safer here in this environment than I would on some streets in Auckland.”

Coles is not the only international coach working in Pakistan, as South Africa’s Mickey Arthur is currently the head coach of the men’s cricket team.

While talking about the security he received in the country, Coles said he never felt threatened. “I have security with me if I go across the road to get a coffee,” he said. “I’ve never felt threatened here. The Pakistani people are lovely people, and they absolutely love New Zealanders.”

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Talking about the cricket fans in the country, Coles said: “They’re very passionate people. You have to understand, if New Zealand were to tour here it would mean the world to Pakistan, to the people. They would fill the stadiums four times over. If New Zealand played 25 games here, they’d all be sell-outs. They’re cricket mad, but most of the kids here only ever get to watch cricket on television. It would mean the world to them to watch their team in person.”

Coles further went on to reveal his point of view that if Kiwis will tour Pakistan, it will open gates for other big teams to tour the country in the future as well.

“It would be great if New Zealand were to be brave and come over. It will take one of the top nations (New Zealand, Australia, England or South Africa) coming over here for the others to realise it is okay,” he said.

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