This could well become a picture of a by gone era. The ICC decision to defer the Champions Trophy is the latest blow for Pakistan cricket. By not making a more favourable judgement regarding Pakistan as the venue, the ICC is in danger of being blame for another Test playing nation in decline.
The situation in Zimbabwe with respect to their cricket has been largely branded the callousness of the ICC to ignore the plaguing problems beseting the survival of the game. That the ICC ha shown that it had no other option before it but to accede to the views of the western nations, it has set a dangerous precedent where future tournament in Pakistan could well culminate in a case where Pakistan will be subjected to the same restrictions that have constricted progress of nations such as Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Australia postponed their series in Pakistan in March-April to an indefinite time in the future. Even then the cudgels were out, putting the Champions trophy at risk. But the successful Asia Cup conducted not three months before the proposed Champions Trophy of September 2008 showed that Pakistan still held the capability of hosting a top ICC event. By now claiming Pakistan unfit as venue, what are the western worlds trying to say – that a Tendulkar or Jayasuriya are not as much at risk – and that any tournament involving big names is not big enough if it does not include these western worlds?
No doubt the Asia Cup is only half populated compared to the Champions Trophy. But to degrade the merit of the Asia Cup and in turn, undermine the security arrangements in Pakistan even with presidential cover accorded to these players, the western nations have managed to ensure that the environment and portrayal of the nation as a turmoil riddled one remains. That Nasim Ashraf resigned hours with Musharraf is being seen as a state of instability. But have not other nations seen worse change of guard? The turmoil with England has happened twice on the field first, with Nasser Hussain and then, Michael Vaughan. Does South Africa now decide that the opposition is to unstable to compete with? Why should bureaucracy affect the state of play on the field? Are players worrying about security and bureaucracy once they take the field? Does not the threat exist and did it not exist before?
Pakistan never really recovered from the blow in the West Indies in the World Cup of 2007. Pakistan continue to stagnate and it is apparent in the team and its running. Even the little that was put together under Bob Woolmer were laid to rest with his rather mysterious death. Pakistan is now fighting the enemy within and without. Unhappy with the appointed skipper Shoaib Mallik who is himself discontent with the team and some of its senior members, the lack of cohesion and the fact that Pakistan have too much idle time on their hands with teams refusing to tour the nation with prior commitments when teams like Australia back step, this team and the cricket culture in the nation is likely to take a beating in the absence of healthy, consistent contests on the field.
How is Pakistan going to sustain its cricketing activities? Foreign nations have questions sustaining security arrangements. The Asia Cup had a long enough, irrelevant schedule and yet the security did not lapse. No one can guarantee life, but what more could Pakistan have done? That is the unfortunate and also, a dangerous question. It has only shown that no nation cares ultimately for cricket, or for one of its member nations. Pakistan are going through a year without playing Tests. Zimbabwe are facing it under compulsion. Pakistan’s story is beginning to look grimly alike. This was not only about security; this is very much like George W. Bush’s statement –“If you are not with us, you are against us.”
How can this attitude sustain the game in the larger interests? Take away the one reason that unites the nation and watch the edifice crumble. Cricket is already poorer for want of attention in Zimbabwe and lack of structure in allowing a then surging Kenya the opportunity to play more, and compete and develop. Bangladesh are not making the strides and it begs the question and points the fingers. How is this globalization?
There is little guarantee that given the same concerns of the western nations, that the Champions Trophy will be hosted in Pakistan next year. After all, the democratic imbalances within the country’s politics, its flagging economy is unlikely to see a dramatic rise in a mere twelve months’ time. Issues that have plagues Pakistan have also plagued other countries. Little is likely to change until the ICC takes matters in its own hands and decides that no nation should be alienated irrespective of the policies that run the nation. There are divisive forces at work and this could well be the beginning of the fault lines that will shape the cricket world at a time when it is ironically looking to spread its wings globally. Do these nations now begin to pick and choose their opponents and venues?
It will be interesting to watch whether an Asian team can now give it back saying London is too dangerous given the extremist terror threats it lives in following Tony Blair’s understudy days with the trigger happy George W. Bush. The ICC continues to look on in ignorance.
