On Karachi
July 6, 2005If you get a hold of Pundits From Pakistan by Rahul Bhattacharya switch over to the chapters where he describes the enigma of Karachi - the city. Switch over then to the pages which show the atmosphere after the Karachi one dayer in 2004. Jagmohan Dalmiya declares that when India next tours Pakistan, the first test match will be held in Karachi. This after India’s refusal to play in the venue.
Such was the brilliance of the match in which nearly 700 runs were scored in a day, described so aptly in this archived piece by Bhattacharya that I remember I started cheering for Pakistan beyond a point. And when Md. Kaif took that brilliant catch, and every one in Cafe Coffee Day rejoiced, I quickly sank back on my seat.
Now we have England refusing to play a test in Karachi. Samiuddin, who is fast becoming the young voice of Pakistan cricket, voices his anguish. It is more to do with the fact that people, not players, not PCB officials have done any thing when a lot could have actually been done.
My stand is simple. If India and Pakistan can play a one dayer in Karachi some time after Musharaff had life threatening attacks, England has no case. If Pakistan guarantee player safety, England have no case. If specific players wouldn’t like to play in a specific match, in this case a Karachi test for fear of family and self, they can be allowed to opt out but I doubt many England players will try to make a stance in a crucial series in Pakistan like some did in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe when players opted out, though the scenario was different, and yet the English toured the country, the case brought up against Karachi is unnecessary.
does anyone seriously know the situation in Pakistan. What do the news reports etcetera say.
Comment by ram — July 6, 2005 @ 11:19 pm
Karachi has not been the most peaceful of cities but if the home team guarantees safety, England has not business objecting to a specific venue.
Comment by Pratyush — July 8, 2005 @ 8:31 am
What guarantee might that be? Will that guarantee be any solace to the widow and orphans a player caught in a death trap leaves behind ? No. It is the players themselves who have the right to decide, and since they have no first hand knowledge of the situation, they repose their trust in their home board, the ECB. The PCB have absolutely no locus standi on the matter beyond negotiating for their share of the commercial pie.
Comment by Ravindra — July 15, 2005 @ 7:00 pm
A player should be able to decide on going or not going based on his own or his family’s concerns but a board refusing it is not usually on for me.
Comment by Pratyush — July 16, 2005 @ 6:54 pm