Daily Times

As Pakistani cricket fans ready to welcome international players to the country ahead of upcoming PSL eliminator matches — preparations have been overshadowed somewhat by media reports suggesting that not everyone is willing to make the trip here.

It is not just fans who have been left disappointed. Former skipper and Quetta Gladiators head coach Moin Khan has publicly questioned the credibility of those refusing to participate. Former Chief Selector Muhammad Ilyas, has for his part, pointed out that when the PCB as well as Pakistani authorities across the board have guaranteed security — the players have a moral duty to play. Nevertheless, both argue that the buck ultimately stops with the former. Khan has criticised the Board’s international player selection policy. While Ilyas has recommended that the PCB convince players at the time of their signing to participate in the tournament’s later stages in the event of their teams qualifying. There is wisdom in this. Especially given that if international cricketing contracts allow the dropping out of finals and semi-finals — it must fall to the Board to redress this imbalance.

Fortunately, not everyone has refused to — ahem — play ball. Indeed, Islamabad United wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton has expressed surprise over these apparent Pakistan wobbles. Similar sentiments came from British footballer Ryan Giggs, who was part of last year’s seven-member international squad that visited the country as part of the ‘Ronaldinho and friends’ tour. Giggsy had called this a “safe, good country”.

Be that as it may, Pakistan still needs to confront a few home truths. This is not just like anywhere else. Most countries do not need to provide visiting sportspersons with air-tight military security all the way from hotels to stadiums. And even here, some PSL players last year were said to be reluctant about coming to Lahore following a terrorist attack near the Punjab Assembly. Should any major security breach occur that poses a major threat to international players this month — Pakistani cricket will be back where it was in 2009; when the Sri Lankan team’s bus was attacked by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Still, terrorist attacks in Pakistan or anywhere else represent legitimate concerns for all athletes, including our own. After all, last September when the Kabul cricket stadium was targeted, Abdul Razzaq, who was playing for the Afghan T-20 series, immediately quit the league and flew home. In fact, the PCB went one step further and restricted all Pakistani players from participating in Afghan T-20 events.

Nevertheless, one thing is clear. The way to resolving such last-minute wobbles must begin with proper contracts. We hope PCB under its dynamic leadership will find the right solutions. PSL has been a game-changer of sorts and it must continue to boost Pakistan’s self-confidence, harness the boundless talent and contribute to defeating those who want to spread fear and terror.  *

Published in Daily Times, March 20^th 2018.