First the reason given by some Australian and New Zealand players for
not going to Pakistan was that they did not know what the security
plans were. Once apprised of those they claimed how could they know
whether they will be implemented. After various more conferences the
reason eventually turned to: Well how can we go there when our own
government is advising citizens not to do so.
Let=92s start there never minding the fact that the security level was
supposed to equal that afforded to visiting heads of state. Let=92s take
a look at what Australia advises on certain countries. They have five
categories.
1. Be alert to own security
2. Excersize Caution
3. High Degree of Caution
4. Reconsider Your Need to Travel
5. Do not travel
1. Bangladesh: High degree of caution (chittagong hill tracts region:
Reconsider your need to travel)
2. India: High degree of caution ( North eastern states Assam,
Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur: Reconsider your need to travel)
3. Pakistan: Reconsider your need to travel (Baluchistan, NWFP do not
travel, no matches scheduled in these regions)
4. Sri Lanka: Reconsider your need to travel (Northern and Eastern
Areas do not travel)
5. South Africa: High degree of caution (Town****p areas: Do not
travel)
6. Israel: High degree of caution (Gaza, West Bank do not travel)
7. Trinidad and Tobago: High Degree of caution.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/
(The British foreign office puts Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh in the same category for travel.)
Interesting that if bombs going off is the concern that Israel gets
the same rating as South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh and
India. But leaving that side note aside Pakistan=92s rating is not very
different from a lot of other cricket playing places. Certainly it is
the same as the alternate for the Champions Trophy. Does this mean
that CA, CNZ, CSA, and ECB are about to cancel all their tours to
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the West Indies?
Then there was this thing about the players not wanting to go. While
certainly some expressed that opinion others had opined otherwise.
While I am all for giving the individuals the leeway the boards cannot
be afforded the same luxury. The boards could have found the players
and decent players who would have come. There is Jonty Rhodes who was
giddy as a schoolgirl when he proclaimed about Israel, =93I think they
really would make great cricket players. If you can turn a desert into
a garden you would be an awesome cricketer because you have
determination and fight." (http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/magazine/
content/quote/magazine/index.html)
And this is about a country which according to an ex-US President is
excersizing apartheid like techniques. And for his troubles was
labeled quickly an antisemite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkDKw0f95k7Q&NR=3D1
Here is what berzezinski has to say about it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DHjUP_0VFXLs&NR=3D1
Which brings up the other question. Where does England stand on
Israeli Cricket? Will it ban all Israeli cricket administrators from
England? Someone here pointed out about the South African case being
in the past. Well here is a current case. There was a lot of hue and
cry over the Iranian swimmer pulling out of the race with an Israeli
in it even though he said it was due to injury. If Zimbabwe can be
banned from entering England why not the Israelis. Certainly South
Africa should be doing it.
So what path should Pakistan cricket follow at this point? PCB needs
to act decisively and firmly and with vision. All things that they
usually lack but here is the karvi goli they need to swallow.
1. Break off cricketing ties with South Africa.
2. Forget the FTP and arrange their tours on a separate bilateral
basis with the countries.
3. Organize their own league with six to eight teams. Where the
leagues spend a couple of months in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, US and
Canada. And then there is a home season. They should come up with
innovative formats to attract the audiences. They should invite teams
from all cricket playing countries to play in league matches.
4. Get =93unofficial=94 teams and players from the countries where the
boards are not willing to come.
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