The ICC Champions trophy, next only to the ICC World Cup and which is to be held in Pakistan from September 12 to 28, might recieve a jolt if major teams decides not to send its team to play in the tournament. With the tournament to be held in a few weeks time, teams from New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa have shown concerns about their players security and hence their participation remains a doubt.
The Pakistan cricket Board (PCB) had done their best to ensure a safe series and a review by the ICC task force, now fully satisfied with the security arrangements for the players, are in the process of hearing the concerns of the four test playing nations, who are reluctant to tour the country. Sources indicate that although the officials and players of the Boards which ICC had met, seemed to be convinced about the security measurement details, the bother is the actual implementation of the security standards set, which remains as something that is not proven and hence their reluctancy.
As a prerequisite, a three day security check was earlier conducted by the ICC’s task force, who recently travelled to Islamabad, meeting officials and then visiting the venues for a demonstration of the security arrangements that are planned to be implemented. Lahore and Karachi are the decided venues for the tournament. After witnessing the arrangements, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive indicated that the ICC is thoroughly convinced with the security arrangements, but, felt that the hard task will be to persuade players to participate in the tournament.
A team led by David Richardson, ICC’s General Manager of Cricket along with Tim May, Chief Executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) and Geoff Lawson, the Pakistan team coach, met the New Zealand team management and players on thursday at Christchurch. The meeting seemed to go nowhere and Heath Mills, Executive Manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association, indicated that although the board was satisifed with the provided security details, but, felt that a demonstration of it would certainly be convincing enough to ensure the safety.
Also, a recent news on one of the TV channels in Pakistan indicated a possible unleash of terror in the form of suicide bombs might happen in Karachi and Lahore, venues where the tournament is supposed to be held.
On Friday, the ICC group met the Australian band comprising James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, Paul Marsh, Chief Executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Ricky Ponting,Captain and Michael Clarke, vice captain of the Australian team. The meeting resulted with the obvious response as the Australian management and players also indicated the same concerns highlighted by the New Zealanders.
Participation is crucial for the Autralians too if they were to defend the title. Interestingly, if Australia make it to Pakistan, then it would create history as Australia last toured Pakistan with Mark taylor’s men in 1998. Ricky ponting indicated that the players are still confused about their participation in the tournament which is just a few weeks ahead of them. He also indicated that the team preferred to wait until the Board makes a final call on their travel.
This week, a group led by Haroon Longart will meet the English and the South African Boards and their players. The discussion reports will be sent to David Morgan, the ICC President on 20th August. With only a few weeks to go for the tournament, the ICC might as well think about moving the tournament to Sri Lanka and in the case of any major teams failing to send their squads, lower ranked teams like Bangladesh and Ireland might be considered for playing in the tournament.
What might happen in the coming weeks is still a mystery and the cricketing world awaits on the ICC’s decision.
It is surprising that the body that should draw automatic respect from all the cricket playing nations is a mere dummy that does nothing than to play to the wishes of the playing nations. When the bunch of experts in convinced about the security standards then why is it that the teams are objecting to play there. Surprising that none of the officials have taken notice of this thing. Is the body a mere figurehead which has no say whatsoever in front of the playing nations.
Thats true, also looking at the history pages one would see that the ICC champions trophy itself was a money making idea of the ICC board in the interim period b/w two world cups. Mere shifting of venues to another country and invitation of lower ranked countries would leave the tournament with no competetive state. also, this isn’t the brightest of the ideas considering the fact the hard work put by PCB.
A panel comprising of security experts from these four cricketing nations should also have been invited to the venues for the security demo.
