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England vs Pakistan 2020: Glamorgan chief Hugh Morris thrilled at Pakistan’s return to Sophia Gardens for T20I
Pakistan will play England on August 31, 2020 in a T20I in Cardiff.
Published: Aug 22, 2019, 02:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 22, 2019, 02:40 PM (IST)
Glamorgan‘s chief executive Hugh Morris has expressed delight at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allotting Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens one of the three T20Is between England and Pakistan in 2020, while hoping that the game attracts a full house.
The ECB on Wednesday announced the home fixtures for England in 2020, which includes three Tests and three T20Is against Pakistan between July 30 to September 2 next year.
(READ: England vs Pakistan 2020: Three Tests, three T20Is)
The second T20I is scheduled for August 31 at Sophia Gardens, the biggest cricket stadium in Wales, and Morris felt this was good for Glamorgan.
“It’s very good news; we are delighted to welcome Pakistan back to Cardiff for an IT20 game,” said Morris. “They are one of the top teams in the world, it should be exciting. We had a really good game at the beginning of this year between England and Pakistan, and we are really excited by another one. It’s on Bank Holiday Monday next year as well, 31st August, and we are looking for another bumper crowd.”
Sophia Gardens hosted two matches during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, and in May a T20I was played there between England and Pakistan.
(READ: At Sophia Gardens, memories of India and Glamorgan’s heyday)
Matches in the United Kingdom involving Pakistan are generally very well attended, given the number of Pakistan-origin citizens. During the 2019 World Cup, almost every Pakistan game was sold out, and even when the team’s game against Sri Lanka in Bristol was washed out, there were many Pakistan supporters in attendance. Some of them, whom CricketCountry spoke to at the County Ground while the rain lashed down, had travelled for several hours to get to the game.
Morris looked forward to fans of Pakistan showing up in Cardiff for next summer’s T20I.
“To have one of the top teams in the world will be great for the cricket lovers of Wales,” he said. “Pakistan bring a lot of excitement, they, as I say, are one of the top teams in the world. They always develop unusual talents, and are always great to see. Their spectators love cricket, they make a great deal of noise in the stadium, and create a great atmosphere.”
(READ: Glamorgan’s Asian connection, from Majid Khan to Ravi Shastri)
Pakistan cricket has a distinct connection with Glamorgan cricket, and indeed with Sophia Gardens. Pakistan greats Majid Khan, Javed Miandad and Waqar Younis enjoyed success and adulation when they played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
Majid remains a legend in Glamorgan cricket talk, chiefly because of the numerous match-winning innings he played for the club when they won the County Championship in 1969. During the 1981 season, Miandad scored eight hundreds and totalled 2,083 first-class runs.
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Waqar was Glamorgan’s overseas signing in 1997 and had an outstanding season, with several eye-catching bowling performances. Several of his photos adorn the walls inside Sophia Gardens.