England’s white-ball player David Willey has expressed his wish for more entertaining cricket for Pakistan fans at home in the coming years, calling Pakistan a “wonderful location for Cricket.”
31-year-old said that he was worried before landing in Pakistan, but that his time there has been incredible.
“Before I arrived, I was a little anxious. Everything, however, is exactly as we were assured it would be. The safety has been excellent. We’ve been quite nicely taken care of. “And the cricket is fantastic,” he said.
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“The love and enthusiasm for cricket in this area of the globe is undeniable. It’s a fantastic area to come and play cricket. So, let’s hope that it continues that way so that cricket can continue and more fantastic matches can be played,” the England batsman remarked.
Cricketers are required to follow the recommendations of the cricket board and necessary authorities before visiting any nation, according to the bowling all-rounder.
He did admit, however, that both Rasheed and Ali had spoken well of Pakistan.
“We have Moeen Ali and Rasheed, who both played for England and praised Pakistan. So I kind of knew what I was getting myself into,” he said.
“We’re locked in a hotel with the COVID-19 bubble, which is bad.” But it’s a fantastic location. “There’s a lot of love for cricket here, and we’ve been well cared about, so it’s been a terrific experience so far,” Willey added.
The Northampton-born cricketer has played in the IPL, BPL, BBL, and other T20 tournaments throughout the globe, and is making his PSL debut this season with the Multan Sultans.
He was also thrilled by the level of cricket on show throughout the PSL.
“I’ve never been out here before, but I’ve seen it on TV and it’s of an extraordinarily high grade.” The battery of quick bowlers you have here, I believe, is the most apparent feature. It’s outstanding. I believe the number of teams is ideal for maintaining a high level of competitiveness and excellence. And all you have to do is look at the benches of some of the clubs to see the talent that’s still on the way,” he said.
He also praised Multan Sultans of the Pakistan Super League, stating that the atmosphere is really loving and that he is fortunate to be a part of a team where everyone is playing for one other.
He also lauded Shahnawaz Dahani, a teammate, for his positive attitude in the locker room.
“He’s a riot and a fantastic character with boundless energy.” He provides an incredible amount of enthusiasm to the group. He’s a terrific individual to have in your squad, not just in terms of cricket, but also in terms of personality,” he remarked.
Willey responded to a question by saying that he prefers to think of himself as a team player who would always prioritize the team’s interests.
“One of my personal ambitions is to be a member of a team that wins a championship trophy.” “It’s more important to me if I can contribute in whatever manner I need to if my efforts can lead to success,” he remarked.
David Willey, the son of former England cricketer Peter Willey, went on to claim that in age-group cricket, people used to say he was there because of his father, and that there was extra pressure on him as a result of all of this.
But, with time, all of that strain has dissipated.
“As I grew up and progressed through the age groups, there was a lot of speculation from others that I was only on the team because of my father. And that’s difficult, especially when you’re a young guy,” he said.
“When I first began playing professional cricket, my father wanted me to have my own career and not be in the shadow of his,” Willey said. So, I believe that with time, it will be a thing of the past.
“At the same time, I had the finest guidance and sounding board – being able to speak with and listen to my father about the game.” As a result, it was challenging in several aspects. On the other hand, it was a godsend.”
Willey had been a member of England’s white-ball squad for many years leading up to the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England, however, he was eventually discarded to make room for Jofra Archer.
The cricketer said it was difficult for him to miss the World Cup at home since he grew up dreaming of participating in the game’s most prestigious championship.
“I was a member of the one-day team for four years going up to that World Cup, and I was the one who had to withdraw at the last minute to make room for Jofra.” So, I suppose it might have gone one of two ways. I could have been enraged. But I was a member of that squad, and I was ecstatic when they went on to win the World Cup,” he remarked.
“Clearly, I was dissatisfied. But, at the same time, I believe the level of pressure during the preceding 12 months was excessive. There was a lot of speculation that someone would be left out of Jofra, and I knew it might have been me since I wasn’t playing my best cricket,” he said.
Willey said that he reached a point when he was putting so much pressure on himself that he was no longer enjoying cricket. “I wasn’t performing on the field,” he added. “I couldn’t say it wasn’t fair or anything like that, but I wasn’t playing very well and didn’t deserve a spot in that team.”
“As upsetting as it was, it was reassuring to know that the choice had been taken and that it had been carried out. “I was happy for the lads that participated and were a part of that World Cup team, but I was unhappy because I had hoped to play in a World Cup on home soil,” he said.
Willey has represented England in 52 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 32 Twenty-20 Internationals (T20Is), with his final appearance being in July 2021. He was also a member of England’s T20 World Cup team, however he did not appear in any matches.
When questioned about his future ambitions, the Yorkshire player said that he does not place any pressure on himself to meet any expectations.
“I’d want to play for England in the future.” I’d want to win the World Cup. I’d want to play franchise cricket for a living and win trophies. And I believe the best way for me to accomplish so is to keep playing cricket. I’m not under any obligation to be a member of a team. I simply want to have fun playing cricket, and I believe my results will reflect that,” he said.
