The chapter of Australian tour, which was scheduled to start on March 10, stands closed as Australian players are not willing to visit Pakistan over security concerns. The PCB, in a bid to keep cricket calendar alive, looked across the border and invited India for a mini-ODI series, but the archrivals very politely declined the invitation.
And now they are looking towards Bangladesh, who might come to Pakistan. According to the original schedule, the tour comprised three Tests, five One-day Internationals (ODI) and a Twenty20 match.
Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998. In 1992, a year after the 9/11 attacks on the United States and subsequent US-led campaign in Afghanistan sparked security fears in South Asia, they forced Pakistan to play on neutral venues of Sri Lanka and Sharjah. It was the then Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (BCB), Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia (retd), who succumbed to the pressure of Cricket Australia (CA), agreed to its conditions.
This attitude of the PCB Ad Committee has encouraged teams like South Africa and New Zealand to dictate their terms to the PCB. But when the Indians toured this country, they exploited the weakness of the PCB and refused to play matches in Karachi, while the West Indies have almost omitted Pakistan future tour programmes, prepared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The Australians dictation is nothing but a sheer absurdity, as no city in the world, including London, is vulnerable to acts of terrorism. The Australians must be reminded that during 1996 Ashes series, a bomb blast occurred at London railway station, killing a number of people, but they did not abandon the Test match at the Lord's and continued their scheduled tour.
Similarly, Sri Lanka, where law and order situation is similar to that of Pakistan, but no foreign team, including Australia, ever refused on security reasons to travel to that country.
WOOING AUSTRALIANS:
However, the PCB bosses are frantically trying to woo the Australians with a view to keeping alive the proposed series. Not bothering about the national honour and dignity, they have promised them that personal bodyguards and sniffer dogs will protect Australian players as part of planned stringent security normally reserved for visiting heads of state.
Not only have they agreed to shorten the tour from 48 days to 30 days, beginning from March 29, they also did not resist the omission Karachi from the tour itinerary.
Earlier, the CA suggested to the PCB that they are willing to play the series on neutral venues or relocating it to Australia. But the PCB turned down the suggestion. As regards the proposed tour, the CA promised to send its security team, having a member of Australian Cricketers Association (CA) to assess the venues and security arrangements. But Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) President former Test batman Darren Lehmann said he would not send a delegate to Pakistan due to safety concerns. He said the players would require plenty of assurances to sway them from their stance.
While the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has assured Pakistan that the tour will take place according to schedule, but the ACA said the players were not willing to go to Pakistan.
NO COMMENT:
According to newspaper reports, the PCB officials when contacted, refused to comment on the ACA decision. PCB chief Dr Nasim Ashraf told a national English daily: "I have also heard about Lehmann's decision, but we will not make any comment on it since it concerns Cricket Australia and not us.
"Since the PCB has been dealing directly with the CA on the matter, therefore, a final verdict from them matters the most. And hopefully they will take a positive decision for the sake of cricket," said Dr Ashraf.
"We have successfully hosted South Africa and Zimbabwe in the recent past and we are quite capable of making excellent arrangements for the Australians too," he added.
To save the dwindling tour, the PCB has already accepted Cricket Australia's two demands, that of shortening the tour from 50 to 30 days and leaving out Karachi as one of the venues.
As regards the venue of the matches, the PCB top brass must know that it is the prerogative of the host country to finalise the venues, keeping in view the interest of crowd at that particular venue. Amazingly, the PCB has set an example of surrendering its right to host and organise matches on visitors' choice.
NAGHMI HAPPY:
It is interesting to note that while PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shafqat Naghmi was happy that the dates of the tour had been agreed in principle, then why the PCB first tried to invite India for mini-ODI series and on their refusal, the PCB contacted Bangladesh Cricket Board for a Test and ODI Series.
The PCB's leniency to the foreign cricket boards, especially the white cricket-playing nations, indicates Pakistan's status in the eyes of the cricket-playing nations.
Meanwhile, the CA is reported to have said it was the monetary gains offered by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Indian Cricket League (ICL), which disturbed the calendar of the International Council (ICC).
JEOFF LAWSON'S VIEWS:
The CA should be reminded of the views of Pakistan coach Jeoff Lawson, former Australian pacer, that is peaceful, hospitable nation. Describing Pakistan as a peaceful and hospitable nation, Lawson urged the Australian cricketers to tour the country without any security concerns.
"Look, I have been living in Pakistan now for the last few months and there are one or two places where security is an issue. But apart from that Pakistan remains a safe place to play cricket," Lawson said.
"Pakistani people love cricket and are looking forward to this series against Australians," he stated. "If the Australian cricketers don't come, it will be a big disappointment, not only for the fans, but also for the sport in general in the country," he added.
"It is peaceful in most parts of the country and I think we must have this series. Australia must tour with the PCB also keen to have this contest, giving the Australians all assurances," he noted.
ROWDYISM:
As regards rowdyism in the ground, there are various examples when Pakistani players were hooted, booed and even stoned, but Pakistan never threatened to call off the tour or cancel the match.
One may recall that it was in 1993 a during a One-day International match at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, that some one from the crowd threw a plastic bottle at fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman, who was fielding on the boundary line. Although Ata-ur-Rehman got injured, Pakistan resumed the play after a brief break.
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