SPORTS WORLD: Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy in jeopardy: Big blow to Pakistan cricket

As expected the world champions, Australia, have "postponed", of course with the consent of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), their planned visit to Pakistan for security reasons. The PCB officials, who were very well aware of the mindset of the CA officials with regard to Pakistan tour, said they were looking for "other options."
Soon after the CA's announcement, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashram told a press conference in Sydney that the PCB had contacted other countries as potential replacements, but minnows Bangladesh had accepted Pakistan's proposal to play five one-day matches and a Twenty20 match in Pakistan in April.
Bangladesh Cricket Board official Gaza Asahi Hussein Lip said in Dhaka: "We will meet soon to fix the dates and venues of the matches." Last month Pakistan also invited India for five one-day matches as an alternative, but the archrivals turned down the invitation citing a busy schedule.
Bombs do go off anywhere and any time. But they are focused on particular targets that have nothing to do with sport, and particularly nothing to do with cricket. It is no denying that recent wave of blasts has severely hurt Pakistan cricket. With the cancellation of Australian tour, the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be held in Karachi in July, ICC Champions Trophy in September followed by India tour early next year are in jeopardy. it is certainly a big blow to Pakistan cricket and the country. It is going to scare away other teams and sponsors.
FINANCIAL LOSSES:
As regards financial losses, the cancellation of Australian tour will cost the PCB at least 5.7 million dollars in the shape of sponsorship, gatemoney and advertisements through billboards and hoardings.
Given the current scenario, the television rights, which are up for sale, will be devalued. Security reasons apart, the fact is that it was the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), which coincides with Aussies Pakistan tour, lured the Australian players.
The Indian Cricket Board-backed IPL starts from April 18 with several Australian and Pakistani players have signed up to play in it The ICC instead of discouraging such events, which coincided with its own international calendar, has pleaded for accommodating the million-dollar IPL from early next year.
RAMEEZ RAJA'S VIEWS:
Former captain and ex-PCB Chief Executive Rameez Raja has rightly said it was money offered by the IPL, which compelled some top Australian players to avoid touring Pakistan. "It is a situation to which the ICC has to wake up to," he added. Since 1992, Australia have been apprehensive of touring Pakistan due to political turmoil and series of bomb blasts, especially after Afghan war, forced PCB Ad hoc Committee to shift the series to a neutral venue.
Rameez said: "I know there is a negative perception about Pakistan internationally, but it is not all true and cricket matches have never been targeted ever before in the country. Other teams have come and played here and gone home on a high note. The Australians must take that into consideration," he added.
"I think the PCB needs to drum up support within the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). It needs to build up a support lobby of the Asian bloc. Because if they don't make a hue and cry about it now, they will face more such problems in the future and cricket could be at a big risk in the country," Rameez said.
He felt that Pakistan needed to launch a big PR exercise to ensure they did not face a similar situation from other teams in future.
"It will also discourage youngsters from taking to the sport like they do today and most importantly it will greatly reduce Pakistan's value when the television cricket rights go up for sale in April. The long-term effects will be huge", he added. Without realising the damage to the game, ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said: "Countries could agree to move their tours. This would be permitted by the ICC if it can be achieved without having a flow-on effect for any other tour or ICC event.
"For members to agree, there is to be a permanent window in international schedule, for IPL, which is domestic competition, seven full members would need to vote in favour of it," he added.
Besides, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the master-mind behind this circus, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sri Lankan Cricket Board are keen to have a six-week gap in international calendar from next year so all players can take part in IPL.
CA, PCB ANNOUNCEMENT:
However, announcing the cancellation of the tour, CA Chairman Creagh O'Connor and PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said in a joint statement: "We are very sorry that the tour could not take place at this time. This was a difficult decision based on independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan at the moment.
"We wish no loss to PCB and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future," said Creagh O'Connor Dr Nasim Ashraf said he was disappointed the tour had been "postponed", but was hopeful it could be rescheduled in the near future.
CA Chief Executive James Sutherland said he sympathised with the PCB's position, arguing that the Australian government has already issued travel warnings, advising its nationals not to visit Pakistan and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Smith said CA had made the right decision in delaying the series.
Australia had proposed to play the series at a neutral venue, but the PCB declined, offering instead to reduce the number of match venues and provide unprecedented protection to the players.
Australia have not played a Test match in Pakistan since 1998, with their three-Test tour scheduled for four years later moved to Sri Lanka and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, because of security issues.
LAWSON SLAMS:
But Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson was critical of CA decision, and termed it disappointing and unjustified. Lawson, a former Australia paceman, said:."I don't think they (Australia) are justified in postponing the series. I am living in Pakistan and feel secure."
"It is a shame that we are not playing Australia at a time when they are beatable," he said. Lawson said he hoped the ICC would give Pakistan the chance to play more Tests in future than it currently had scheduled in the Test programme.