Pakistan should be allowed to stage international cricket again, their captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Monday as his team prepared to face top-ranked South Africa in a three-Test series.
No Test series has been staged in Pakistan since armed militants attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team.
"Pakistan is such a big cricketing nation and the world has to think about bringing international cricket back to the country," Misbah said. "A Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan saw full stadiums for every game and there were no security concerns. The people should have international cricket," he told a media conference.
Naveed Akram Cheema, the team manager, supported the captain, saying the security situation in the country was much safer than the outside world realised.
"There is a difference between perception and reality. Other teams do not come to Pakistan on the pretext of security concerns, but it is as safe as any other country in the world," he said.
Misbah said playing "home" Tests abroad - often in Dubai and Abu Dhabi - was affecting the competitiveness of the team.
"It is very difficult when you are not playing a format on a regular basis - you really have to work hard," Misbah said. "You could say it is a limitation for us, but we are professionals and have to do well. We play only about five or six Tests a year while other countries play 15 or 16 a year. This really does affect our team," he said ahead of the first Test from February 1 in Johannesburg.
Pakistan will also play Tests in Cape Town and Centurion, two Twenty 20 internationals and five one-day internationals.
Cricket Ireland, meanwhile, has confirmed that a two-match one-day international series with Pakistan will take place in May.
Shaun Marsh has been given a route back into internationals that could see him return to Tests after being included in Australia's side to face Sri Lanka in two Twenty20s on Saturday and Monday.
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