SPORTS WORLD: Postponement of Champions Trophy: A rude shock to Pakistan cricket

After a long suspense, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to postpone the much-awaited Champions Trophy, scheduled to start from September 12, to October 1999 provided the law and order situation improves in the country.
The ICC decision came just before a fortnight of the tournament in the wake of South Africa's decision to stay away from the event because of security worries. After a teleconference, involving the ICC's Executive Board, the ICC accepted Pakistan's right to host the tournament next year. At the same time, it indicated if the situation did not change by October next year, Pakistan have the right to host the tournament either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, ICC General Manager Dave Richardson hinted at shifting the venue possibly to Sri Lanka due to reservations of the four leading nations. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rejected the move, reminding Richardson that it had successfully staged the six-nation Asia Cup in June and July.
SURPRISING:
However, the South Africans' decision to pull out of the tournament was surprising, particularly when they toured Pakistan for two-Test and five One-day Internationals (ODIs) only last year and were quite satisfied with the security arrangements here.
Moreover, former South African all-rounder Mike Procter, who was ICC match referee for the Asia Cup, disagreed with the players of Australia, New Zealand and England, and said he saw no reason why Pakistan could not host the Champions Trophy in September.
Describing security measures, taken by the authorities, as "fantastic," Procter, said: "I found Pakistan a safe place."
Announcing the postponement, ICC President David Morgan said he had "complete support and sympathy" for the PCB. What does it mean? Is it plausible and respectable? The fact is that the white nations' player power prevailed over justice and fair play.
Justifying the postponement, Morgan said: "If other members continued to express reservations over the issues of safety and security, then the ICC would have the right to decide about the tournament's location." The ICC always maintained that the Champions Trophy would not be moved, although a decision was taken to remove Rawalpindi from the itinerary - the scene of last December's assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto - and stage matches only in Lahore and Karachi.
TASK FORCE: It may be mentioned here that Pakistan appointed a special task force to oversee security during the event, but that did not satisfy Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shafqat Naghmi, commenting on South Africa's decision, said it was disappointing as the Pretoria visited Pakistan only last year and were quite satisfied with the level of security provided to them.
BCCI BACKS PCB: Meanwhile, Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Niranjan Shah: "We fully support Pakistan." But we will have to wait and see."
The BCCI Secretary is reported to have said that the white nations' attitude had endangered the 2011 World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Pakistan. However, one thing is clear that player power prevailed when Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) Chief Executive Paul Marsh challenged not only ICC authority, but also the Cricket Australia.
AUSTRALIAN WARNNING: ICC General Manager Dave Richardson, who hinted at shifting the venue to Sri Lanka must be reminded of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, advising its citizens "to reconsider to travel to Sri Lanka because of the very high risk of politically motivated violence. "Attacks in Colombo have become more frequent and have killed many civilians. Further attacks can happen at any time, anywhere in Sri Lanka. So Australians could inadvertently become victims of violence directed at others," the instruction said.
LORGAT'S VIEWS: One feels sorry for ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who said that it would be a challenge for him to convince the players that the security arrangements being made in Pakistan were sufficient for the event. It is amusing to listen from Australia and New Zealand, claiming that they were keen to support and help out Pakistan cricket.
What a contradiction in their words and deeds! On the one hand they are not willing to send their teams to Pakistan, and on the other they claim that the world cricket needs Pakistan to be strong.
BITTELY CRITICISED: Cricket circles here have bitterly criticised the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) for making a hue and cry about the security, and added that it were always Australia, England, the West Indies and New Zealand, who avoided visiting Pakistan for one reason or the other. Those who do not wish to visit Pakistan should look at Pakistan's track record of staging international events like the two World Cups, Test Championship and the recent Asia Cup, which were held peacefully.
It will be pertinent to quote senior sports writer Qamar Ahmed, who in his column said: "They - the white nations - should also have to look into their own affairs before casting any suspicion on Pakistan's promised security for the Champions Trophy.
"In Tim May's own country, the indigenous Aborigines were killed in hoards by the colonialists for which successive prime ministers of Australia have recently apologised to them. Similar was the case in New Zealand with the Maoris.
"The FICA's apprehensions about the Aussies, the Kiwis and the Englishmen playing in Pakistan is based mostly on misinformation and ignorance of the culture and, perhaps, based on religious intolerance mainly.
"I feel that Tim May and FICA should give more time to develop the game at grassroots and to sort out the plight of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) players, who are fighting for recognition from their rival group than bickering on behalf of those who do not wish to tour Pakistan.
"Did FICA stop the players going to Jaipur after a spate of explosions during the IPL or have they made any noise about India presently touring Sri Lanka while the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan forces are up against each other or have they so far sounded a warning to Australia and England for their forthcoming Indian tour in the winter after hundreds of people have died in Ahmedabad and many injured in Bangalore recently?" questioned Qamar Ahmed.
All said and done, the ICC is facing worst ever crisis after the Oval fiasco and there is a clear split between the Asian bloc and white nations, who are not ready to surrender their domination of the ICC. Cricket experts have criticised the PCB officials, especially outgoing Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, for keeping the nation in the dark.
They said although Nasim Ashraf was very well aware of the fate of the Champions Trophy some six months ago that Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies are reluctant to send their teams to Pakistan, he did not take the nation into confidence.
Even till his exit from the PCB, he kept on misleading the people, saying that the Champions Trophy would be held on schedule. Blaming Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa for non-co-operative attitude with the ICC to stay away from the tournament, Nasim Ashraf tried to save his own skin. Though the ICC's announcement did not come as rude shock, it has also caused a setback to the game of cricket and the young Pakistan team who are keen to play against world's top class cricketers.
One must keep in mind that two suicide bomb attacks in Wah Cantonment, killing about 70 people, has sent the wrong messages to teams already scared to play in Pakistan because of security concerns. These attacks have strengthened the belief of Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and the West Indies that for this tournament Pakistan is not safe.