Legal Notice to ICC by Pakistan Cricket Board

While it is natural to sympathise with the continued disappointment expressed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it is time in my opinion for PCB to introspect and self apprise the implication of its legal action against the ICC. I am not writing this blog as an Indian but as someone like many others who share the passion and concern for the game and the stakeholders involved.

Ever since the decision to take away the Co-Host status of Pakistan for the premiere event of 2011 was announced, many former and current officials and cricketers in Pakistan have made statements. Some of the likes of Javed Miandad has gone to the extent of becoming a security advisor by stating that security situation in India could also be different by 2011. Worst, Mr. Butt states that IPL was moved out of India due to security issues and that India reasoned it on General Elections. It just shows a immature assessment of the "election process" in a nation like India that has more than 700 Million plus people eligible to exercise the mandate. The magnitude of such a process would require India to make every attempt to safeguard its internal security. To a larger extent these concerns prevail due to the extremism that exist in Pakistan which that country has been neglecting. I would refrain from making a political statement here. There are also some others who have another funny assessment. Former ICC President Ehsan Mani termed hand of India in this decision which would add agony in the minds of the Pakistani fans back home. This is clearly taking India on fully knowing what it can and cannot do. This is not arrogance speaking but blatant unavoidable truth that prevails in this game. I doubt if some sort of wisdom prevailed in the board rooms of PCB. Nevertheless, not much can be expected to happen going forward with this legal notice.

PCB in my opinion is missing a point. They have not come to terms and continue to underplay a major "security" lapse that injured Sri Lankan Cricketers. A security lapse of that sort where gun shots were showered targetting a foreign team is unimaginable and unacceptable. This has not happened in any country in the past and it won't happen in any country in the future including the other Co-Hosts of the 2011 event. This is not overconfidence speaking but a simple conviction that those countries that assure watertight security blanket will ensure it remains water tight at all times.

During earlier tours in these countries there has been terrorist attacks. For example during the tri nation tournament involving India and South African in Sri Lanka there was a major bomb blas in close proximity, however cricketers were well guarded. In India post 26/11 English team were provided with the security exactly what was assured to them. Same cannot be expected from Pakistan. There was a gross violation of security aspects. The terrorists had information on complete security arrangements in place. The video footing showed how well they knew the strategic locations to successfully attack the bus that carried the Lankan Cricketers and the Match Officials. Let us not forget that Pakistani team was not targetted in that incident. Had it been so, then the hue and cry that PCB is making today probably is entertainable at the ICC.

It is not the failure of PCB that ICC is singling out. It is a national failure to tackle terrorism and home grown extremism (Swat is a home made product of Pakistan that they the administration has decided to take on now). When these terror organizations could call for the killing of the President and Prime Minsiter of a Nation and their next to Kin, how in the world PCB expect Cricketers to be safe? I have watched Imran Khan speak on television shows many many times. He maintained all through these years that terrorists would never attach cricketers or sports fraternity. He reasoned such a act will create public ire and would only weaken the terror groups. Well, that theory was also proven wrong after what happened with the Lankan team.

ICC will battle it out with PCB. However, what PCB need to realise is that ICC is there to protect the interest of the game and its stakeholders involved. One such stakeholder, if i read right is also the Nations that the team represent. ICC would not want the game to be a spoiler in relationship between nations. Assuming that the decision to take away the world cup games from Pakistan is declared void after the legal process, I am sure it (the decision) would formally be placed yet again very soon for a vote by the members in a ICC forum. In that instance, I can certainly say there would be no lobbying around! All nations will equivocally vote against hosting games in Pakistan. That would only cause embarassment to PCB. If someone has ill advised PCB that the games could come back then there is always the challenge of the foreign ministries of each nation deciding whether their teams must tour Pakistan?. A negative outcome of not to tour is something neither PCB or ICC can challenge. Pakistan should realise that they are part of the ICC and all members are concerned about Cricket in Pakistan. Fortunately, the process within ICC is democratic and it is incumbent upon member states to abide by the decisions taken in the best interest of the game. By taking hard positions like this Pakistan Cricket is not helping themselves.

As a cricket follower, we would like to see tournaments without any harm to cricketers and the fans. That is a monumental task for Pakistan in the near future for the simple reason that the nation is involved with more complicated stuff at this point in time handling the home grown militants.

It would be interesting to see what is in store in the coming weeks and months.