In what turned out to be a pretty interesting week in more ways than one, a clutch of former cricketing greats have unleashed a barrage of criticism on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). By and large their wrath has focussed on the England tour itinerary to the country this autumn.
Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, who had the unique distinction of winning the World Cup on March 25, 1992 in Melbourne has blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for mishandling the itinerary.
Imran, who has played 88 Tests and 175 one-dayers; said on Thursday: "The PCB should never have offered England the choice of playing a Test or one-dayer in Karachi."
"They should have insisted on having a Test in Karachi and not wavered from their stand especially after the bomb blasts in London in July," he added.
The 52-year-old, who has joined politics after his retirement from cricket and is now a member of the parliament, had come under scathing criticism last month when he supported England's decision not to play in Karachi.
But in an apparent turnaround, he said England needed to review their decision of not playing in Karachi as touring teams should not pick and choose venues.
"There are security concerns everywhere in the world given the prevailing circumstances. England must keep this in mind," Imran opined.
Former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram have also severely criticised England's stance.
Former captain and coach Intikhab Alam said: "It was unfortunate that England had opted to deprived the people of Karachi from watching them in that city."
Intikhab pointed out: "That the past PCB's decisions of shifting the home series against Australia and West Indies to neutral venues in 2002 because of security apprehensions had damaged Pakistan's cricket cause."
He added: "It had now become a trend of foreign teams to pick and reject venues in Pakistan."
Current Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq wants the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to renew its decision of not to play a Test match in the Karachi later this year.
England which are to tour Pakistan from October 26 for three Tests and five One-day Internationals, have only agreed to play one game, i.e. a one-day international, in Karachi in December because of security fears.
All their other matches are scheduled to be played in the province of Punjab something that has riled the passionate followers of the game as well as the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA).
Inzamam said: "When India played last year in Karachi no untoward incident took place and everything went well. I think Karachi being a major centre deserves to host a Test."
The Pakistan captain was of the opinion the England board and players need to realise that possible threats from terrorists could happen anywhere in the world today.
He said: "The London bombings are an example. If England do revise their decision of not playing a Test in Karachi it would earn them plenty of goodwill in Pakistan and elsewhere around the world."
Keeping in view the ample amount of time left for the England tour to begin, the PCB should flatly tell the EWCB, they either play a test in Karachi or the tour is off.
With Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and his government, an ardent supporter on the war of terrorism, and having given cast iron guarantee where security is concerned in Karachi, EWCB should trust his word on the subject and not depend on the sketchy advice given to them by the security, advisers that visited the country.