Daily Times

Following Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) criticism of Federation of International Cricketers Associations’ (FICA) report on security matters in Lahore, FICA has responded through its statement which said it did not advise players against participating in Pakistan Super League (PSL) final proposed to be played in Lahore. After PCB had confirmed that the final of the second edition of PSL wouldbe played in Lahore, FICA had issued its report which had designated Pakistan, a very high-risk zone for the foreigners. The report had drawn severe criticism from PCB for its alleged “careless and cavalier approach” to security issues relating to playing the PSL final in Lahoreand stated that FICA had done a great disservice to the cause of cricket in general and Pakistan cricket.

“Players around the world from affiliated countries have always looked to FICA to provide them with information relating to security risks of playing in various parts of the world”, Tony Irish, FICA’s Executive Chairman said. “It is our responsibility to provide this information, which we obtain from highly credible security experts so that players can make informed decisions. We have great sympathy for fans and players in Pakistan who have not been able to consistently watch international teams and high-quality foreign players playing cricket in their country for several years,” he said. While FICA is justified in its place as it has relied on a standard procedure throughout the world by getting advice from top security consultants, the PSL final and being it in Pakistan needed a thorough inspection. PCB had proposed a fly-in and fly-out the scenario as well as had purchased bulletproof vehicles to ensure the safety of the players. While FICA says it relied on Eastern Star International (ESI), in relation to security risks to players and teams who may contemplate playing in what may be considered high-risk cricket environments, the reports from such agencies portray the general situation of a country and the things PSL had arranged should have been kept in mind. On the part of PCB and PSL’s management, this shouldn’t have come as a surprise. FICA’s response to the Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan was also the same, but the tour had gone ahead anyway and was marred by a terrorist incident as well. The position of PCB is understandable, but it needs to think without emotions to justify to the foreign to come to Pakistan. In the end, it’s the players individual choice whether to visit Pakistan or not. PCB cannot do much there. *