Pakistan’s cricket team, currently in Australia for a three-match Test series, found themselves at the center of a controversy upon their arrival at Canberra Airport. The lack of VIP treatment and absence of officials from the Pakistan embassy or Cricket Australia to welcome them drew criticism from fans, especially as players were seen loading their own luggage.
In response to the outrage, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has clarified the situation, shedding light on the reasons behind the players taking matters into their own hands. According to Afridi, only two officials were available to assist the team, and with a tight 30-minute window to catch their next flight, the players decided to speed up the process by loading their own luggage.
“We only had 30 minutes to catch our next flight, and we helped load our own luggage because there were just two people. We wanted to wrap it up fast and to save time,” explained Afridi.
The Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for a four-day warm-up match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval against Prime Minister’s XI, scheduled from December 6 to December 9. Under the leadership of new Test skipper Shan Masood, the team will then head to Perth Stadium for the first Test of the three-match series, set to commence on December 14.
This series holds significant importance for Pakistan as it marks their return to international fixtures after a disappointing run in the World Cup 2023 in India. Additionally, the matches contribute to the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, adding further stakes to the team’s performance.