According to the assessment of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Nasim Ashraf, if India does not support Pak cricket at this “critical juncture”, terrorists could also try to target cricket in India so as to scare away foreign countries and players. He does not however clarify why the terrorists should seek to scare away foreign cricket players and teams, or what the militants could hope to gain from Pak isolation in international cricket.  "If such elements succeed in their aim of turning Pakistan into a no-go country for foreign teams in terms of security, there is no guarantee they will not try to do the same with India as well and try to scare teams away from playing in India," he said.

Ashraf was anxious that the world cup of 2011 which, does not seem likely to be held in Pakistan, not be shifted out of the country. "If India and other Asian countries stand by Pakistan cricket I have no doubt it will not be long before international cricket is revived in Pakistan but it will take at least 12 to 18 months for this to happen. I would advise the Pakistan board to concentrate on keeping their share of the World Cup matches and for this intense lobbying and a government diplomatic offensive is required," he said.

Among the suggestions offered by Ashraf, one was that the PCB should assist in devising a security plan that can be followed by all the countries in international cricket. "Pakistan needs to take steps to ease apprehensions about the security among other countries and India can play its role in helping Pakistan do this," he suggested.

Ashraf made a pertinent point when he said that "And if security mistakes were made we must admit them and ensure they don't happen again." He was perhaps referring to the fact that match referee Chris Broad had expressed his ire at the lack of adequate security offered to him and other match officials as well and the Sri Lankan cricket team and the many other conspiracy theories that are doing the rounds in the cricket news.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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