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| Cricket in Pakistan |
| Islamabad bombing left concerns gloomy |
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| Date: 21 September, 2008(Sunday) |
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Umar Farooq Kalson
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A view of damages after an explosive laden dumper struck the main gate of Marriott Hotel according to initial reports 20 persons killed and 50 other injured. © APP |
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Seems like four out of eight Test cricketing nation's decision to boycott the Champions Trophy appears to have been vindicated. As expected Australia first one to react over the recent fatal bombing in Islamabad – capital of Pakistan, in which 250 were injured and killed over 50. Cricket Australia (CA) expressed its sadness today following a deadly bomb attack.
“Our reaction is that it's terribly sad and tragic news,†CA public affairs manager Peter Young told AAP. “Australian cricket has got a lot of friends in Pakistan and I think everyone at the national level is really sorry to hear this sort of continuing news coming out of the place. We enjoy playing against them and we have tours coming up there next year of course. Everyone is praying quite fervently that the domestic situation there settles down so people can live their life in peace and hopefully we can start playing cricket there again.â€
CA had been criticised consistently by Pakistan for scraping out their tour from past ten years for concerning safety and security and recently four out of eight Test playing nation stood against in touring Pakistan for ICC’s Champions Trophy which was later forced to be postponed until next year and leaving ICC in a mess to reschedule it.
However, Australia scheduled to play its most of the matches in Karachi which is atleast 710 miles away from Islamabad and the other venue Lahore which is minimum 162 miles far from Islamabad, but still it’s a point of concern.
Though Aussies could tour Pakistan twice next year but Young says precautions will be taken. “We do have cricket scheduled in Pakistan in 2009 and as always we'll do a pre-tour assessment before we travel there,†he said. “The ICC is trying to come up with dates and venues for that[Champions Trophy].
“Depending on what the ICC decides with the Champions Trophy (Australia will tour Pakistan twice next year). And of course we were due to be there today. We would have been in Pakistan had the originally scheduled dates gone ahead.â€
On September 14, series of bomb attack in the Indian capital, New Delhi, killed at least 20 people and wounded 100 plus, only 10 days before Australia are scheduled to land in India for four-Test tour. Apparently, Australia does adopt more safety precaution compared to any other team, but Australia on the very next day of the incident cleared to play in India as CA spokesman Peter Young said the travel advice for India and Pakistan remains very different despite multiple bombings in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and now New Delhi which have killed more than 150 people in total. It's very simple. You go to the experts and if they say don't go, you don't go. If they say go, you go," Young said on September 16.
Paul Marsh, the chief executive, Australian Cricketers' Association had expressed following the criticizing by PCB for adopting ‘double standard’ over the security, "We go to extreme lengths to obtain the best advice on the situation of each country we visit. In Pakistan's case this year, people we rely on told us not to tour. If they say not to tour again, we'll listen. Bombs going off anywhere are a concern."
For the time being, taking Islamabad bombing into consideration, even cricket fans, cricket boards, stakeholders or any concerns those are directly or indirectly concerns with the ICC Champions Trophy which was suppose to be run between 12 – 29 September in Pakistan, perhaps are very much satisfied with the postponement of the campaign.
According to the local news, suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with a ton of explosives, with an apparent car bomb exploded outside the front yard of the five-star hotel.
Umar Farooq Kalson is an Editor of Cricdb in Pakistan
© Cricdb
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| Your Comments |
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| I am felling so sad for our loss of innocent lives at MARRIOTT HOTEL. My prayers and condolence to all the peoples who are affected by this tragedy. |
| Posted by: Omer Shahid @ 2008-09-22 08:27:41 |
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| umar, you are absolutely right. Islamabad bombing left very bad impact on Pakistan and epically for Pakistan cricket, and if Champions Trophy was held in Pakistan, in these days then it surely would be more worst for Pakistan, but I think we can made a better environment for Country and cricket. |
| Posted by: Ubaid Awan @ 2008-09-21 13:01:00 |
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| Feeling very sorry for all those who died, rest in peace.
It's a huge pity that, after so many wars and lessons learnt from the past past, people are still killing each other. |
| Posted by: Olexandr Melnyk @ 2008-09-21 07:56:07 |
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| These terrorism acts represent the security situation of Pakistan.
I am really sorry for those who suffered and pray that those who died rest in peace. |
| Posted by: Zeeshan Pervaiz @ 2008-09-21 07:33:13 |
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| It was a very sad incident and a heartrending disaster. My all sympathies are all injured and the families of dead persons. yeah i am some how relieved that Champions Trophy has been postponed otherwise it may be focused for such activities. |
| Posted by: Kamran Raza @ 2008-09-21 05:21:36 |
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Team |
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| 1 |
India |
| 2 |
South Africa |
| 3 |
Australia |
| 4 |
Sri Lanka |
| 5 |
England |
| 6 |
Pakistan |
| 7 |
New Zealand |
| 8 |
West Indies |
| 9 |
Bangladesh |
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| Pos |
Team |
|
| 1 |
Australia |
| 2 |
India |
| 3 |
South Africa |
| 4 |
New Zealand |
| 5 |
England |
| 6 |
Pakistan |
| 7 |
Sri Lanka |
| 8 |
West Indies |
| 9 |
Bangladesh |
| 10 |
Zimbabwe |
| 11 |
Ireland |
| 12 |
Kenya |
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