Syed Ahsan Ali
ICC Champions Trophy which was to be held in Pakistan in September 2008 got postponed to October 2009 due to the security concerns of not one, not two but four ICC members. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England remained adamant throughout negotiations that inspite of Pakistan Cricket Board’s remarkably well job in persuading them to visit Pakistan they have genuine fears regarding the security of their players.
Without any semblance of doubt, it is indeed sad news for Pakistani cricket. It left Pakistan as an unwanted place to tour and Pakistani players in limbo for having no cricket from last few months to coming few months. India surprisingly backed our stance with utmost proficiency otherwise this postponement could have changed into a relocation of venue to Sri Lanka. It alteast gives Pakistan half a chance of hosting this tournament again in 2009.
But as honesty demands, do we need to look for reasons for this reluctance on the part of international cricketers to visit Pakistan? Are we convinced that their fears are misplaced and unjustified? Pakistani cricket forums are trying to paint this reluctance as sheer hypocrisy of international boards. Many hold a view that few months back when Jaipur erupted with bomb blasts which accounted several human lives at the time of IPL, no foreign cricketing soul thought about hiring a cab to airport because IPL was a gold mine.
Another view is that by boycotting Champions Trophy in Pakistan they could make room for more T20 Champions Leagues here and there which provide far more lucrative options for sponsors, players, organizers and corporations.
May be all these allegations and ill-conceived notions regarding the security of foreign players in Pakistan are false and over-emphasized, but do we also think that their fears are based on mere profit-hunger and hypocrisy than on judgment and truth? I think not.
Aren’t we all Pakistanis carrying fears of bombings and killings while walking in the streets of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi? Don’t we operate under a psyche of fear of being harmed in our mosques, roads, hotels and now even in the hospitals? So is it fair on our part for asking favors that can cost them their lives? So in my opinion instead of wandering for made-up sympathies and alien assurances, we need to bring our house in order first.
I hope the situation improves by October 2009 and Pakistan can sucessfully host this prestigious tournament.
@Syed Ahsan Ali
Very good Article!
@Eidee Man
“no evidence that terrorist groups have ever tried to attack foreign cricketers” Brother, there has been no evidence that people who died in the terroists attacks were victims of them before! What I mean to say why take a chance, something terrible happens there will be more finger pointing to Pakistan. Then what will we do? I dont care about the ICC decision, it might have been merely pakistan cricket at its worst in the champions trophy. Nothing is expected out of them.
Eidee Man: This is not a safety thing. It’s a political statement. Just like when Australia refused to play World Cup matches in Zimbabwe. Pakistan could promise what it did for an India-Pakistan match in Peshawar – 1 policeman for every 3 people in the stadium. That pretty much guarantees nothing bad will happen. And the 4 teams that pulled out would not change their stance. Following the Fort Knox line of reasoning is not going to work.
Although it really hurts that we’ll again miss out on some cricket on our home soil. But the cricketers refusing to play might be justified in their right as well.
Perceptions are stronger then beliefs, what is being reported in the media will surely deter them from coming here and make them feel unsafe. How many of us would be ready to play a game in Iraq, Afghanistan or Sudan for that matter.
And given what the Kiwis saw, A Military Bus blown up in front of their eyes, is enough to make them never want to come back to play in Pakistan.
I seriously doubt we will host the champions trophy in 2009. First of all, do you think that Pakistan will suddenly become a safe country in one years time or at least percieved as such. Secondly there is another champions trophy due to be played in 2010 and 2009 is also the year in which the world twenty20 cup is to be played in England.
As for the World Cup in 2011, its anybody’s guess but I believe that by refusing to play the champions trophy in Pakistan it sets a dangerous precedent for the future.
Our government could help matters by making serious efforts to curb the rising militancy in this country instead of making half-hearted and belated efforts.
Absolutely disagree; there is no evidence that terrorist groups have ever tried to attack foreign cricketers. Statistically, cricketers from England probably have a higher chance of being hit by lightning.
Where was our protest when our team coach died in a hotel abroad, and our OWN players were being suspected of murder, even by big news organizations like the BBC? Where was our protest when the Pakistani team was attacked by a gang of racist hooligans on the streets of England?
Most of all, Pakistan is bearing the brunt of the bloody damnation that is the war on terror, for precisely the same countries who are refusing to reciprocate an ounce of respect by playing a cricket match while being surrounded with more security personnel than cricket fans.
I think the ICC should come up with a very stringent fines policy for abandoning scheduled tours. I’m sure the cricket boards can afford to pay them.