Champions Trophy postponement : A devastating decision for Pak, PCB hope to fill gap

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You have to be a Pakistani to feel this Pakistan’s point, and a valid one at that too, was they had hosted the six-nation Asia Cup in june-july peacefully, writes Shahid Hashmi. More... You have to be a Pakistani to feel this Shahid Hashmi September 06, 2008 First Published: 23:20 IST(6/9/2008) Last Updated: 23:22 IST(6/9/2008) There was despair everywhere. “We seem to be fighting the war against terror alone, and paying the price,” said a cricket official. Captain Shoaib Malik agreed. “We are facing a cricket poverty.” Their feelings summed up the mood in Pakistan after the Champions Trophy was postponed over fears of safety and security. You have to be a Pakistani to feel this loss. It has left Pakistan cricket and millions of fans deprived of an event when it was needed badly. Had it taken place it would have paved the way for more international cricket in Pakistan. As of now, Pakistan has become a ‘no go’ zone for non-Asian teams for another year, maybe more. Cricket’s superpower India and the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) fought valiantly to keep the game’s second most prestigious competition after the World Cup in Pakistan till the last moment. The ICC even risked an ‘Asia and non-Asia’ divide in its pursuit to keep the event in Pakistan. Sadly, the ICC president David Morgan acted more like an England and Wales Cricket Board chairman than a top man of the international governing body, for he too was worried about the safety of players in a country which is wrongly labelled ‘troubled’. Once South Africa shocked the cricketing fraternity by pulling out, the writing was very much on the wall. The move reeked of double standards, for the Proteas had so successfully toured Pakistan just 10 months ago. But the low point came from Down Under. Australian cricketers and their overzealous media had made up their minds much before. Yet they, knowing fully well of their deserved reputation for pulling out of tours to Pakistan, did not want to be the first to do so this time. And instead, that distinction went to South Africa. It is not clear whether in seriousness or jest, but an Australian newspaper claimed that the Tamil Tigers had assured them they would not target the event if it was relocated to Sri Lanka, the alternate venue. Pakistan’s point, and a valid one at that, was they had hosted the six-nation Asia Cup as recently as in June-July. That went off peacefully and the foreign security hawks found it difficult to get the players’ opinion on security arrangements because they were mostly out of their hotels! For the record, Indian players are always more at risk in Pakistan. There were threats issued against them but they have come to Pakistan thrice in the last four years. Aren’t they human beings, too? It was the duty of international cricketers — it wasn’t as if they are risking their lives by playing in Iraq — to support Pakistan and play for a cause, under tried and tested security arrangements. It was silly of them to express doubts over the security plans Pakistan had promised. Imran Khan summed it up well. “It is a great tragedy,” said Imran, a politician and despite being a critic of the current government, did not back the postponement. “Not having a mega event will not only hurt Pakistan financially, but also interest-wise and development-wise. Pakistan badly needed cricket.” Wasim Akram also felt for the fans. “For so long, the non-Asian nations are depriving us of cricket. Australians have double standards. Had there been big appearance money like in the IPL, they would surely have come. Everyone saw that they did not raise a voice when bombs went off in Jaipur. Like every Pakistani, I am disgusted.” Cricket is the only entertainment in Pakistan. It also unites an otherwise wayward nation. Sadly, that chance at forging a peace, however temporary, was taken away. Even the most optimistic of fans doubt that it will happen next year because it is impossible to win the war against terror so soon. Also, conceptions are unlikely to change overnight.

[Sachinism]

South Africa reject tri-series proposal The proposal for a tri-series in South Africa, also involving Pakistan and probably Sri Lanka has been rejected by Cricket South Africa, who said their top players need to rest after the recent tour of England. "Cricket South Africa [CSA] have today informed us they can't arrange the series as their players have had a long and hectic tour of England which ended on a disappointing note for them," Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board's chief operating officer, told Reuters. Naghmi was also told by a CSA official that "South Africa's leading players were not interested in playing in a series immediately after their tour of England". South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur had expressed concerns that fatigue was hampering his team's progress after their 4-0 loss to England in the recent one-day series and warned the administrators against "flogging a dead horse". The PCB was trying to arrange the tournament to fill the gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan in September. However, five of the participating nations said they would not travel to Pakistan because of security concerns, forcing the tournament to be put off. "We have the option of inviting one or two teams for one-day matches but will only go ahead with them after getting a clearance from the Interior Ministry," Naghmi told the News. Pakistan are now trying to set up a one-day series against Sri Lanka. Source: http://content-www.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/368593.html

[Dinx - the Jinx]

it really is double standards from australia. i cant remember when they last toured pakistan. prbly in the late 1990s. they hv always been the first ones to pull out when there is a security threat (1996 wc is a prime example)... such chickens...

[veer]

something tells me that next cricket event in India would be risky for non-asian team...

[DomainK]

something tells me that next cricket event in India would be risky for non-asian team...

Dont think so.

[Kohum]

Pakistan’s point' date=' and a valid one at that too, was they had hosted the six-nation Asia Cup in june-july peacefully, writes [b']Shahid Hashmi.

This is valid point, but then there were two bomb-blasts that happened near security establishments, which were supposed to be secure. How is that for safety? Clean bowled through the 'gate' I say. The other point made is that - cricket is the only game/entertainment that unites this wayward nation. This needs to be embossed in the talibunnie's mind as well.

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Lawson leaves Pakistan abruptly for Australia The Pakistan Cricket Board has played down national coach Geoff Lawson's decision to leave abruptly for Australia and take leave with his family. More... Lawson leaves Pakistan abruptly for Australia September 08 2008 at 11:42AM By Rizwan Ali Islamabad - The Pakistan Cricket Board has played down national coach Geoff Lawson's decision to leave abruptly for Australia on Monday and take leave with his family. "He will be back later this month," PCB spokesperson Mansoor Suhail told the Associated Press. Lawson, a former Australian test bowler, left Pakistan as the cricket board is working to fill the gap left by the postponement of the Champions Trophy limited-overs tournament and arrange some international cricket its team - most likely against Sri Lanka. "His annual leaves were due and there's nothing more than that," Sohail said. "If the series against Sri Lanka materializes, Lawson will surely come back much earlier and join the team," he added. Local media have reported Lawson position may be in doubt in the new-look PCB, left after chairperson Nasim Ashraf resigned on August 18, just hours after the organization's patron President Pervez Musharraf stepped down as Pakistan leader. The PCB's new patron - President Asif Ali Zardari - is expected to name a new chairperson later this month. "I have no insecurities," Lawson was quoted as saying in The News newspaper on Sunday. Lawson, who took over the Pakistan coaching duties in July 2007 steered the national team to the final of inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last year. Under Lawson's coaching, Pakistan lost both test series at home against South Africa and one against India in India last year. This year, Australia was expected to tour Pakistan, but the tour was postponed due to security concerns. Pakistan - which did not play a single test match in 2008 - is not expected to play its next test match before January 2009 when India tours. It currently stands at No. 6 positions in both the International Cricket Council's test and one-day rankings. Lawson took up the Pakistan coaching job after the death of Bob Woolmer at last year's World Cup, describing the role as a "big challenge." "I will continue to focus on my task which is to make Pakistan the world's best team," he said at the time. "I had several lucrative options in Australia but accepted to be Pakistan's coach because it was a big challenge for me. And I will continue to focus on my task which is to make Pakistan the world's best team." Lawson, who took 180 wickets in 46 test matches for Australia between 1980-1989, recently failed to convince Australian and New Zealand players to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as part of the International Cricket Council's security task force. The biennial event had to be postponed for a year due to growing security fears held by Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa. - Sapa-AP

[Dinx - the Jinx]

"I will continue to focus on my task which is to make Pakistan the world's best team," he said at the time.

Another one of those Aussie chickens...

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Pakistan invite West Indies for Tests in November 2008 Pakistan have "formally invited" West Indies to play two Tests in November in another attempt to fill the gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy. More... Pakistan cricket Pakistan invite West Indies for Tests in November Cricinfo staff September 12, 2008 West Indies last toured Pakistan in November 2006 © AFP Pakistan have "formally invited" West Indies to play two Tests in November in another attempt to fill the gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy. "We have formally invited the West Indies board to send their team to play two Tests in Pakistan immediately after the three-match one-day series ends in Abu Dhabi," Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, told PTI. "We are hopeful West Indies will respond positively or else this year we just have the one-day series in Abu Dhabi and a Twenty20 four-nation event in Toronto in October." The Pakistan board had initially proposed a tri-series in South Africa but the plan fell through after Cricket South Africa said their players were fatigued following a long tour of England. They then tried to set up an ODI series against Sri Lanka but had received "ridiculously low figures" for the television rights. Pakistan have been deprived of Test cricket in 2008 after Australia postponed their tour of the country for Test and ODI series, scheduled for March, because of security concerns. They hosted the Asia Cup in June-July, but the Champions Trophy, which was supposed to begin on September 12, was also postponed after five countries said they wouldn't participate in the tournament due to security fears. Pakistan's last Test was in India in December 2007 and their next Test series is in January 2009 when they host India. "Unfortunately, we don't have much cricket in coming months," Naghmi said, "but 2009 is going to be a packed season for us and our team will not have enough breathing space." Their next international assignment is a four-day Twenty20 quadrangular in Toronto next month with Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts Canada.

[DomainK]

Wasn't WICB one of the boards to refuse to visit Pakistan for CT? Why is PCB requesting them to visit Pakistan again then?

[Dinx - the Jinx]

may they are under pressure from Borivili XI to have sme tough challenge :)