Tour Managers Reviews

Bob Buckler

Multan Test Matches, Pre-Tour Hunza & Skardu Valley

Two years ago, Not Out Travel’s first-ever tour was to Pakistan. This year, we were back! And who was there to greet us at the airport? None other than our old friend Amjad, standing out in the crowd with his familiar smile. The cricket schedule had changed last minute, with back-to-back Test matches in Multan and the final one in Rawalpindi, but that didn’t dampen our spirits.

With our amazing guide Amjad, we set off on a morning flight from Islamabad to Skardu. The flight took us over the breathtaking Karakoram mountains, with views of glaciers and snow-capped peaks. It was like flying into a postcard!

In Skardu, we spent two nights at Khoj Resorts, a charming spot on the banks of the Shigar River. It’s a bit off the beaten track, but the stunning setting made it all worth it.

Day three had us on a six-hour drive to the Hunza Valley. The journey was a visual treat, taking us through barren landscapes that eventually opened up to lush green terraces and views of the historic Old Silk Road. That evening, we enjoyed an unforgettable meal at a local restaurant—a delicious three-course dinner for less than £3 each!

Exploring Hunza over the next few days was magical. Amjad, whose family lives in nearby Passu, made sure every moment was special. A highlight? Crossing a wobbly suspension bridge (terrifying but thrilling!) and having tea with Amjad’s family, served with their homemade bread and butter. It was pure heaven.

Leaving Hunza came with a twist. Pakistan Airways had been canceling flights, so we had to drive 12 hours back to Islamabad instead. Leaving at 5 am, we climbed down over 4,000 meters through jaw-dropping landscapes. After 15 hours, we finally reached Islamabad, greeted by city protests but safe and sound thanks to our incredible driver and, of course, Amjad.

The next leg of the trip was a seven-hour drive to Multan. Having been here before, we knew what to expect—a lovely hotel with friendly staff. Security was more relaxed this time, as the cricket team stayed further away.

The first Test Match was unforgettable. Despite Pakistan’s strong start, scoring 556, England pulled off a historic win with an incredible 823/7 declared. Joe Root and Harry Brook’s brilliant partnership left the Pakistan bowlers in tatters. Jack Leach’s 4-wicket haul sealed the deal on the final day.

Evenings were a treat as we dined at local restaurants with Amjad and our ever-present police escort. The food was delicious and ridiculously cheap, though we always over-ordered. Nothing went to waste though—it was packed up and shared with locals.

One night, we were lucky enough to have Jonathan Agnew join us in the “social room” (the only place in the hotel where we could enjoy a drink). It was a relaxed and fascinating evening of cricket stories and lively conversation.

Between the Multan matches, we spent two nights in Lahore. This vibrant city was a cultural delight. We visited museums, mosques, Lahore Fort, and the Wagah Border to witness the famous flag-lowering ceremony. It was pure theatre, full of energy and drama!

A visit to the Gaddafi Stadium showed us preparations for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. Although it was a Sunday and some attractions were closed, it was exciting to see the venue shaping up for such a big event.

For the second Test in Multan, we were back on the same pitch. Unfortunately, Pakistan couldn’t chase down 297, bowled out for 144 on the fourth day. Noman Ali’s brilliant spin performance (8/46) made history. Ben Duckett stood out for England with a fantastic 114, while Jack Leach shone again with seven wickets.

With the match ending early, we spent an afternoon at a local resort, enjoying traditional entertainment and a delicious buffet. It was the perfect way to unwind.

Another highlight was a hilarious and insightful evening with Jonathan Agnew and Andy Zaltzman, who joined us in the “social room.” Their mix of cricket stats and comedy was unforgettable.

My tour officially ended in Rawalpindi, where my colleague Andy Tyler took over. While England would go on to lose the series, Andy had the chance to explore more of the stunning Skardu and Hunza Valley.

This tour was nothing short of incredible. From the warm hospitality and amazing food to the unforgettable landscapes and thrilling cricket, every moment was special. Thank you to our wonderful guests for choosing Not Out Travel. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Until next time!

Bob, Not Out Travel

Andy Tyler

Rawalpindi Test Match & Post-Tour Hunza and Skardu Valley

I was fortunate enough to take over from Bob to help manage the Third Test in Rawalpindi and the post tour sightseeing. Having never been to Pakistan before I had some preconceived ideas but relied on the testimonies of those who travelled there in 2022. All I can say is WOW, what a place.

Having arrived and conducted a thorough handover with Bob, we had two days of anticipation to fill before the Test match started. Most were still in Lahore but a small group of us embarked on an Islamabad city tour. During the day we visited the National Museum, where we were introduced to the plethora of cultural traditions and their linkages to other nations in the region. This was followed by a visit to the impressive Faisal Mosque. Built on the edge of the city with a backdrop of the mountains it was very picturesque. With a capacity to hold 10,000 worshippers in the mosque and a further 80,000 outside, you can imagine the scale and size of the place. We stopped for lunch at the Kabul restaurant for some traditional Afghani fare. BBQ’d meats on skewers really hit the spot. We finally visited Daman-e-Koh, a beauty spot with amazing views over Islamabad. The views were a bit hazy but the parks resident monkeys kept us entertained.

The evening prior to the Test starting all the touring groups and media were invited to the British High Commission, where we took advantage of their hospitality. Then it was upon us, the start of the Test match, the decider… anticipation running high. Oh well, that didn’t meet expectations, we were well and truly defeated. Having said that we were extremely well looked after at the ground. A seamless entry into the ground, fantastic seats and brilliant hospitality at lunch. It is a pity it only lasted two and a half days. During the evenings we made use of the much needed ‘social’ room to discuss the day’s activity.

The highlight of this week was the end of tour meal at the Serena Hotel where we were presented with a beautifully decorated banquet room, a six course extravaganza of culinary delights, topped off by the insights and discussion with Jonathan and Emma Agnew, Steven Finn and Ramiz Raja. A wonderful evening, enjoyed by all.

Having to unexpectedly fill a couple of extra days we able to see more of the sights and sounds of Pakistan. This included the Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum, the Dharmarajika Stupa and the amazing views at the Khanpur Dam. The Pearl Continental team had a group meal at the Kabul Restaurant, which marked the end of the tour for those travelling home and the start of the sightseeing for those staying on.

The next six days can only be described as a bucket list event. I have seen some wonderful things on my travels, and the mountains, valleys and rivers of Skardu and the Hunza valley sit right up there. Words cannot describe the breathtaking scenery, mountain passes, heart stopping bends in the roads. Not to mention the heartwarming hospitality from our Pakistani hosts. A special mention must go to Amjad, our guide, who brought it all to life with his commentary and went the extra mile when we went to visit his family home for tea.

This is a tour I would recommend to all. Absolutely fantastic. My final thought on this Pakistan adventure goes to the guests who were brilliant.

Nick Joyce

Multan & Rawlpindi Test Matches & Post-Tour Hunza & Skardu Valley

My words cannot adequately describe the wonder of Pakistan, I wish they could. Not Out Travel was the largest organised party to travel out to this series of matches and touring venues. If you want a fantastic experience, then come along one day and see for yourself.

I am writing this report before the reviews have come in, but I am in no doubt they will reveal how wonderful Pakistan really is. This was my third visit with yet another tremendous group of Not Out Travellers who helped to make it another memorable experience.

Obviously, the main reason to tour is the cricket, and what cricket it was. We saw a victory in the first test, with more records falling than I have space to comment on. I must mention though the fabulous partnership between Harry Book and Joe Root and also the skills of the England bowlers, managing to squeeze out the Pakistanis in the second innings.

The second test remained at Multan on the same wicket, a new experience for me watching consecutive tests on the same wicket at the same ground. This time the home team was much better prepared to deal with the English batsmen. More records fell but this time a Pakistani victory.

The third test moved to Islamabad where regrettably, the English team did not appear to be at their best, but we must not take anything away from a great bowling display from the Pakistani spinners, whose talent and guile proved too much for some of the English batsmen, although some fell to rather rash shots.

At both grounds we had wonderful seats to watch the matches, several of our party were invited to take part in televised adverts for tea and solar panels which added to the cricket watching experience.

During each test we were delighted to have a few evenings with a selection of guests including Jonathan Agnew, Stephen Finn, the refined Ramiz Raja and the amazing Andy Zaltzman, who was able to gives us a rundown of most of the numerous records that fell during the series. Our guests were a fascinating and interesting group who were able entertain our party, particularly at our very special farewell evening.

The final test ended early and that gave us the opportunity to formulate extra sightseeing opportunities. We visited the magnificent Lahore Cricket Museum, with a collection put together by the curator Major Yahya Ghaznavi. We also had a tour of the Multan Stadium and adjacent Academy facilities. The extra time allowed us to visit a particular favourite of mine, the 2000-year-old University site at Taxila, and the nearby Taxila Museum with thousands of ancient and historic artefacts from several millennia, all discovered locally. We also took in historic forts, mosques and the Ayyubia National Park where we walked on of the amazingly scenic paths. There were many other fascinating sites, but I do not have space to list them all.

An additional part of the tour was a visit to the Karakoram mountains, in particular the beautiful Skardu Valley and incredible Hunza Valley. This was my third visit to Hunza, and I still remain amazed. The mountain views, many over 20,000 feet, and the valley vistas took the breath away from all our group. We delighted in the rivers, the valleys, the snowcapped peaks and the lifestyle. We visited a village house and sampled the local food and enjoyed the culmination of a local cricket match on the village field at Passau, which is located at 7000 ft. We smiled as the victorious visiting team left the venue on a number of mopeds…. three passengers on each and all the kit!

I believe this tour will stick in the minds of our group for ever, firstly for the fascinating cricket plus the associated records. Also, the unique scenery, the friendliness of the Pakistani people, the fantastic food on offer and of course the tourists themselves, who as a group were amazing and jelled as if old friends.

Victories help make a tour, we had one excellent match win but regrettably we lost the series. After 50 years of touring, Pakistan definitely rates amongst my top experiences and there were certainly some ‘I was there’ moments on this trip.

A special word for our Pakistani Agents who worked so hard alongside our Not Out Travel office to construct an almost seamless experience whilst contending with difficult situations. Fixtures, hotels and venues were only confirmed two weeks before the tour started, and the third test venue was very nearly changed whilst the tour was in progress. And when free time was unexpectedly available, they organised interesting additional options for our party adding to our parties incredible experience.