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| India-Pakistan |
| Stadiums stand empty in isolated Pakistan |
| 2012-05-13 |
| AFP - Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... 's National Stadium was once a dusty, sweaty hell for visiting cricketers, a cauldron of heat and noise where Pakistain went unbeaten in Tests for more than 45 years. But now, three years after international sides stopped coming to the country in the wake of a deadly bad turban attack on a Sri Lankan team bus, the stands are silent, deserted and rusting with disuse. It is a scene repeated in stadiums across Pakistain. Since the gun attack in Lahore, the country has not hosted a full international in any sport, barring a short series of hockey friendlies against lowly China. Last month it organised a visit by the Bangladesh cricket team, only to have it postponed a week later over security fears, to the dismay of Pak officials. And Pakistain's announcement on Wednesday that Canada may visit this year was quickly played down by Cricket Canada chief Doug Hannum, who called it a "potential tour" and said no formal talks had taken place. Even the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US did not deter foreign teams: Pakistain hosted arch-rivals India -- considered the biggest target for forces of Evil -- for cricket tours in 2004 and 2006, and staged the World Open squash tournament in 2003 and Champions Trophy hockey in 2004. But when gunnies attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during the third cricket Test in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and wounding seven players, Pakistain was cast into sporting purdah. It was no longer true that sports were not a target for forces of Evil and ever since, teams have been unwilling to come. For three years, Pakistain have held their "home" cricket series in neutral countries, mostly the United Arab Emirates. All their Davis Cup tennis matches and hockey fixtures have been played away from home. Ehsan Mani, former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), believes the Pakistain Cricket Board (PCB) are going the wrong way about seeking to end their isolation. "The Bangladesh team not coming to Pakistain is a setback," Mani said. "But I would say that the PCB's strategy is totally wrong as they are, like, begging teams to come, which is wrong." Mani said Pakistain needs to get the ICC to set security guidelines. But he added that even if Bangladesh had come, others were not likely to follow. "I can't speculate whether Bangladesh Cricket Board wanted to send the team or not, but Bangladesh's visit would not have convinced England or Australia," he said. But most dangerous are the financial implications. "PCB would feel the financial pinch soon," Tauqir Zia, a former PCB chairman, told AFP. "Their expenses per year are 1.6 billion rupees ($17.6 million) and this cannot be borne until you earn by hosting cricket. Otherwise you have to go to the ICC and ask for funds." Hockey survives on millions of rupees in government grants, while football is supported by international body FIFA through the Goal development scheme. For former Pak Test fast bowler Jalal-ud-Din, the key to Pakistain coming in from the cold is wooing the old enemy next door: India. "Cricket revival, I believe, is related to India because they are the super powers," he said. "PCB must form a team of players and diplomats and send it to various countries in order to convince them to tour." Jalal also blamed poor governance in the PCB, saying that under former chairman Ijaz Butt "our relationship with other countries worsened and we are paying for that". |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #3 They can't follow their Taliban buddies and use the stadium to shoot women? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2012-05-13 14:29 |
| #2 Sri Lanka just yesterday nixed hosting a Pak game against Australia. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2012-05-13 02:03 |
| #1 Cause, meet effect. |
| Posted by: gromky 2012-05-13 00:23 |