The future of international cricket in Pakistan, including that country’s intention to host the 2011 World Cup, came under scrutiny after the Lahore attack on the Sri Lanka team that left six security personnel dead and eight players wounded.
Pakistan, which is battling Islamist and Taliban insurgents in its North West Frontier Province, has struggled to attract visiting cricket teams in recent years because of security concerns. The current Test series with Sri Lanka is the Pakistani team’s first since touring India in 2007. In 2002 a car bomb exploded outside a hotel where the New Zealand cricket team was staying. Last year Australia canceled a proposed tour in the wake of a series of suicide bombings. The International Cricket Council was also forced to postpone the high-profile ICC Champions Trophy after five of the eight participants pulled out. See a map of where the attack took place » Pakistan is due to co-host the Cricket World Cup in 2011 with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, although the extent of its involvement in that tournament is now in doubt. Watch footage of the gunmen staging their attack » David Morgan, chairman of the sport’s governing body, the International Cricket Council, said cricket “must go on, it will go on” after the attacks but admitted it was an “an “extremely sad” day for the sport. “The events can only be described as shocking and we send our sympathy to the relatives of those who lost their lives,” Morgan said at a news conference in London. “On many occasions we’ve been told that cricketers would never be targeted in Pakistan. And this morning’s events have proved that to be quite incorrect. “The world is a dangerous place, but cricket must go on. It will go on, it’s a great game, and a great solace to so many people.” Gunmen opened fire on the bus carrying the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers, killing at least six Pakistani security guards and wounding eight cricket players and an assistant coach. A local umpire was critically wounded and is being treated at a hospital in Lahore, according to ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who also spoke at the London news conference. He said none of the teams had been threatened before Tuesday’s attack. Lorgat the attack happened about 150 meters from the stadium in Lahore, and cricketers were “holed up” at the venue during the attack. Morgan said the ICC’s board will be meeting in April to consider whether its 2011 World Cup — slated to take place in the Indian subcontinent — will include stops in Pakistan. “The board will have to think very carefully about the extent to which Pakistan will be used for that event,” Morgan said. “It’s a very important event, but the safety and security of players, officials and supporters is very important and the board will be taking that into account.” John Stern, the editor of cricket magazine Wisden, said it was “not possible” to imagine international cricket taking place in Pakistan in the near future and described the outlook for the sport in the country as “desperate.” Read profiles of the wounded players »
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“Pakistan has been struggling for a while. They hadn’t played a test match in the entirety of 2008,” Stern told CNN. “I do hope the cricket world will rally around Pakistan to find a way for the team to play outside of the country.” He said one possibility was for the team to play its matches in England, which has a large Pakistani community. Former Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis said: “I don’t see the International Cricket Council now allowing the World Cup matches in Pakistan. It’s gone.” “This has really damaged Pakistan,” former Pakistani cricket player Zaheer Abbas told Geo-TV. “Already some teams didn’t want to come to Pakistan. Now who will come after this incident” Sri Lanka agreed in December to visit Pakistan after India called off a tour following November’s terror attacks in Mumbai. Indian authorities blamed the attacks on Pakistan-based militants. Watch Austin describe the mood of the Sri Lankan players after the attack » Pakistan’s Cricket Board had hoped Sri Lanka’s tour would help it recoup some of more than $16 million it was set to lose as a result of India’s cancelation. The Sri Lankan offer to tour was a reciprocal gesture. Pakistan was one of two countries that agreed to play in Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup tournament after other countries refused to travel there because of security concerns over the country’s civil war with Tamil separatists. Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi also expressed his regret over the attack. “We were indeed shocked to learn about the dastardly attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team and hope for the safety of all the players and officials involved.
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“The Indian Premier League strongly condemns these attacks on sportsmen and the sporting fraternity at large which is quite unprecedented. My heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family of the deceased … and we wish all the injured Sri Lankan cricketers a complete and speedy recovery. “This attack is unparallel in terms of the target — which was the Sri Lankan Cricket Team. Especially since the Sri Lankan team were on a goodwill mission to facilitate Pakistan’s re-initiation into the global cricketing fold.” In reference to Season II of the Indian Premier League, Modi said extra security would be provided to cricketers and fans. “We are working in close conjunction with the Indian government, the state governments and franchisees for the safe and successful conduct of the tournament in 2009.”
Pakistani politician and former cricket captain Imran Khan condemned the security arrangements in Lahore. “It’s very tragic that the policeman was killed, but had there been the proper security like it is provided to some of the senior ministers in the government, they would not have been able to approach the bus. … I think that this was a serious lapse in security.” The English Cricket Board also expressed its shock. In a statement it said: “Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed or injured in this despicable attack. The ECB has also been in touch with both boards, the ICC and the Sri Lanka team to offer their thoughts and condolences to those involved.”
