Summary No Indian govt. official has publicly announced that full security will be provided to Pakistan Team
Dunya News Report (Madiha Fareed)
Pakistan’s security Team will visit India today to examine the security conditions ahead of Pakistan cricket team’s departure for World T20 tournament starting from today.
On the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a three member delegation constituted by Interior Minister will visit India and will forward its recommendation whether to send Pakistan Cricket Team to India or not to take part in the World t20 contest.
The concerns about Pakistan Cricket Team’s security arose when quite a few Hindu extremists groups in India threatened that they will not let Pakistan team play in India over Pakistan’s involvement in Pathankot. Some extremists even threatened to “thwart the pitch” if Pakistan is allowed to take part in the contest. Several politicians also joined the rant but the most serious threat came from the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, where Pakistan and India contest is scheduled to be held on March 19th, who stated that the provincial government will not allow India Pakistan match in Dhramsala stadium and will not provide security to Pakistan Team.
Yesterday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudary Nisar Ali Khan had announced that Pakistan will not let its team participate in the tournament when the security is not assured “we take those threats very seriously and will not put the safety of our players at risk, several Incidents have happened in the past, several of our artists have been subjected to security threats”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan regarded the statement of Himachal Pradesh’ Chief Minister as hateful and has opposed the participation of Pakistan Team in the World Cup. Pakistan’s star cricketer Waseem Akram had also opposed sending Pakistan Team amidst the security threats.
Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shehreyar Khan had called for India to publicly acknowledge Pakistan Team’s participation in the tournament and to also promise full security to the team. He said “BCCI has given private assurance but unless we receive guarantee form the government, we’ll not put our team’s safety at risk”.
It is pertinent to note that no Indian government official has publically announced that full security will be provided to Pakistan Team. The silence from Indian government raises serious questions and fuels the rumors that India is conspiring to keep Pakistan from the big tournament.
Pakistan has four group matches scheduled for March 16, 19, 22, and 25. The World t20 starts today but Pakistan will play its first match on March 16 in Kolkata. Interior Minister had said that “We can delay our team’s department but cannot put their lives in harm’s way”.
ICC’s security team is also ion India to examine the security situation. A lot rests on ICC but if Pakistan pulls out from World Cup due to security threats, what will ICC do about it?, will it let the tournament proceed without Pakistan? It will be a shame for cricketing world if Pakistan does not get to participate in the T20 World cup due to threats from the host nation. ICC will be to blame mainly, because given the circumstances a change of venue for Pakistan’s matches should have been on cards.
With the inception of Big Three, international cricket has already turned into an oligarchic regime. The ones with money get to make all the decision. India wields strong influence over International Cricket Council (ICC) as it brings the most of the money to the table.
In May 2013, Pakistan Cricket Board’s then Chairman Najam Sethi announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with BCCI to hold an annual bilateral series, but the BCCI failed to get certification from the government and the series never took place. Pakistan has reportedly suffered a loss of 90 to 100 million USD due to cancelling of that series, but Pakistan cannot pursue any legal charges against India because that MoU was not a binding legal document.
The doors for cricket have been closing for Pakistan for some years. Pakistan was barred from holding international matches after the attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in 2009. Pakistani players were not allowed to play in Indian Premier League after the Mumbai attacks.
At the end of the day, Sports are supposed to bring people closer. Pakistan needs to lobby effectively and present its case in a better way in front of international community. Because if Pakistan does not get to participate in the world cup, it will not only be a shame for cricketing world but will also have serious repercussions for Pakistan cricket.
