Business boss wants Pakistan back at Headingley

Shahid HASHMI

Pakistan's victory in the second Test against Australia here at Headingley has left one businessman hoping the team will return to exploit their fan-base among the local expatriate community.

Leeds and the adjoining city of Bradford, often called 'mini Pakistan', are home to some 120,000 settlers, the largest concentration of Pakistanis in England outside of the West Midlands.

Security concerns meant Pakistan's two-Test series against Australia was played in England.

Series opener

After losing the series opener by 150 runs at Lord's, Pakistan won by three wickets at Headingley here on Saturday, ending a record run of 13 straight Test defeats by Australia stretching back 15 years.

"It has been quite some time since the Pakistanis of Yorkshire have had so much to celebrate," Arshad Chaudhry, chairman of the Leeds-based Asian Business Development Network, told AFP.

"We can build on this," added Chaudhry, also a Yorkshire County Cricket Club member, after Pakistan bowled Australia out for just 88 in their first innings - their lowest total in 26 years.

Several stumbles

Pakistan, after several stumbles, achieved a tricky victory target of 180, to spark scenes of celebration amongst fans at home and abroad.

But Pakistan itself became a no-go area for international cricket after an armed attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in March last year.

"It is so very important that the passion the game of cricket creates in Pakistan and amongst Pakistanis across the globe is nurtured and turned to positive commercial benefit, not only for the people of Pakistan, but also for the communities the Pakistanis live in," said Chaudhry.

LEEDS, England, Tuesday (AFP)