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Champions Trophy 2008
ICC task force aims to convince players of Pakistan safety
Cricinfo staff
August 12, 2008
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As the ICC task force wrapped up its visit to Pakistan to assess security concerns ahead of September's Champions Trophy, its real work begins now. Members of the panel will head to Australia, New Zealand and England, where they will also meet with South Africa, in a bid to convince top players from the countries not to pull out over security concerns.
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, admitted the next step in ensuring a top-quality tournament might not be so simple. "I think it's not easy to convince people that are feeling uncertain about something," Lorgat said in Karachi on the last leg of the task force's three-day visit. "It is a difficult task but we have to do our best and, inshallah, we will be able to convince them."
A group led by Lorgat will go to England early next week while David Richardson, the ICC's general manager of cricket, will head meetings in New Zealand on Thursday and Australia on Friday. Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations, and Geoff Lawson, the Pakistan coach, will travel with Richardson.
David Morgan, the ICC president, will receive the results of the meetings on August 20 and make "a further assessment of the comfort levels of our participating members". "We are committed to a safe and secure event in Pakistan," Morgan said. "We believe these visits and the feedback we get from them will play a major role in us achieving those ends."
Though the ICC is satisfied with the security measures in place - Rawalpindi has been dropped from the schedule, leaving Karachi and Lahore as the only venues - transporting that confidence on to reluctant players will be the big job. "The first thing we should look at is what we can do," Lorgat said. "What we will try and do is convey the type of confidence we have in the measures that are in place, hence why we will go to member countries to convince them.
"You've got to remember that, unfortunately, they sit far away and they've not been to Pakistan. They might not share the sentiment that we do and it would be good of us to go and explain to them exactly what measures are in place and raise their levels of confidence. Some of us who've been here feel satisfied with the security measures. If we can convince them, then there is no issue."
Lorgat did hint again that no action is likely against players who opt out, saying "we can never force anybody to come and play in the competition". "We will do our very best to convince them. The member countries have signed participation agreements to send their teams."
Lorgat also gave details of the task force's visit. "We've had two very entertaining days in Pakistan," he said. "We got into Islamabad and met with officials and diplomats in the day. We then proceeded to Lahore to get a physical demonstration of the security measures that have largely been recommended in various security consultant reports and observed them. Similarly, we've observed them in Karachi." Observations will be shared and points noted before two teams head off on missions to either side of the planet."
Confirmation of the cutting of Rawalpindi from the schedule came after the group was unable to check the security arrangements during the Asia Cup in June and July. "There has been no way for us to formulate an opinion on the venue," Lorgat said.
"We believe that by excluding Rawalpindi and using just two venues, both of them successful hosts during the Asia Cup, it will remove doubt, allow a further concentration of resources and thus improve comfort levels for all stakeholders in the event." Lahore will host eight of the 15 games, including the opening match on September 12 and the final on September 28.
Lorgat also acknowledged there could be further visits to Pakistan by the task force, should the situation arise. "It is difficult to predict because the brief is to exist through to the end of the tournament. It is a dynamic process. If something different was to occur or the environment was to change then perhaps the task force may well re-visit. At this stage I cannot say but certainly the task force will exist to the end of the tournament."
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I don't want to be disrespectful towards pakistan, but I certainly beleive the india is safe place to have the tournaments compare to pakistan. I really feel for pakistans citizens that government can't provide them a safe country to live in. and as normal human nature they customise themselves to the environment that they live in. for them pakistan well could be ok to have tournament but if you compare that with environment of Australia or NZ or for that matter to India. you will get your answer!!!
Posted by SpottedHyena on (August 13 2008, 22:38 PM GMT)It's about time SA, Eng, NZ & Aus showed some teeth (for lack of a better word). They are constantly bullied by the Asian block (Zimbabwe vote for example). Pakistan is not safe and the Champions Trophy is a made up tournament designed to keep (already busy) players busy and make money. Nobody cares about the tournament and they shouldn't be expected to risk their lives to play in it.
Posted by Abood on (August 13 2008, 14:38 PM GMT)I'm a pakistani and I feel that it is a good chance for Pakistan, India and Sri-Lanka to win the Champions trophy if Countries like Aus, RSA n NZ boycott from the tourney.
Posted by curious_onlooker on (August 13 2008, 13:34 PM GMT)This is in response to zuhair who finds it difficult to understand why players are playing in IPL and not in pak.. zuhair.. IPL pays big bucks and its worth playing for. When you compare the risk of the bombings vs the pay earned by participating in IPL, the pay wins out and the players think that its worth it... Whats the motivation for coming to pak ? Experience bombings first hand like the new zealand team did first hand couple of years ago ? Be lucky enough to view a bomb go of and experience the thrill of being alive ? When the money is not there i dont think the risks are acceptable for travelling to pak.. improve security my friend, and then invite us.. we will consider pak then
Posted by nook3y on (August 13 2008, 12:49 PM GMT)Now after this security clearance, I am pretty sure that all reluctant boards will send their full-strength squads to Pakistan, and we will have a great tournament. Just keep your fingers crossed...
Posted by ajithi on (August 13 2008, 11:35 AM GMT)CHAMPIONS TROPHY IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT.If the players of aussies,rsa,nz etc aren't interested then play the champions trophy with remaining interested countries.they're the ones to lose the trophy.the ICC is convinced.the teams concerned will lose the trophy if they are not interested to tour pakistan.the nations concerned will not get an oppurtunity to learn about the newly introduced review system.it is going to be their big loss..............more bigger than losing the trophy.ICC should convince them.ITS THEIR JOB. but the decision is finally taken by the concerned boards of cricket.
Posted by Zuhair on (August 13 2008, 10:47 AM GMT)It is a shame that a task force has to be sent to convince a bunch of arrogant western players. When they can continue playing IPL in india despite bombings in that very city, how could they refuse to play here in pakistan where the major hit are is far away from the major cities. What do you make out f it when junior players like Shaun Marsh, Johnson etc are more than willing to travel Pakistan? It is simply that they would want to take every chance to cement thier spot in the team. Whereas the senior players would not care any less if they go or not. Had it been for IPL, not a single player would have backed out. Shame that is.
Posted by basitpakistan on (August 13 2008, 10:31 AM GMT)i think aussies have double standards. they have greedy minds and they worship to money because they can play in india and england after bomb attacks but they have problems to play in pakistan where the security is provided to the level of heads of the state. i think they should come here to pakistan with open mind because pakistanis are so loving people. they love to play cricket and to watch cricket. any thing can happen any where in the world but i can assure them than there will be no damage to the players. i can surely say that pakistan is much safer than austarlia, england, newzealand and much much much safer than south africa. in the end being a pakistani i can assure them that they are safe in pakistan.
Posted by Skywalker1977 on (August 13 2008, 09:23 AM GMT)Security is definitely an issue in Pakistan. Bombings are a daily affair now. This is enough to scare the players away. I remember once when New Zealand were touring Pakistan, there was a bomb explosion right infront of their hotel and they called off the tour. A major pre-requisite for hosting any competition of the scale of the Champions trophy is an peaceful environment where the players can focus on the sport, which sadly is lacking in Pakistan.
Posted by Looch on (August 13 2008, 07:36 AM GMT)I think that for the sake of world cricket, all teams should be as close to full strength as possible. It would be a vote of confidence for Pakistan cricket and I'm sure it would be a great morale boost for the people of Pakistan, plus it would stop people from making bizarre claims about why "Anglo-Saxon" cricket teams do no want to go to Pakistan. I agree with the well thought out post by Gumpunana who raised some excellent points.