ICC backs Pakistan to stage successful tournament

[Nafees]

Source: 17 Jun, 2008 2028hrs IST, AFP and ICC backs Pakistan to stage successful tournament - News - News - The Times of India Cricket

LAHORE: Pakistan was given a vote of confidence on Tuesday by international cricket bosses as it gears up to host the Champions Trophy later this year.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ray Mali said he was confident Pakistan would put on a good tournament as the country had experience of running such events in the past.

The tournament, from September 11-28, involves all the major cricketing powers - Australia, South Africa, India, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Pakistan will also host the six-nation Asia Cup involving defending champions Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates from June 24 to July 6.

Mali, who arrived with other ICC officials for Wednesday's launch of the biennial Champions Trophy, said: "The Asia Cup will give Pakistan an opportunity to rehearse for the Champions Trophy."

Mali and other ICC officials held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over preparations for the event.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf gave assurances on security. "The ICC is launching the event in Lahore on Wednesday and that is an ample proof that there are no problems. We have made foolproof security arrangements for the event," said Ashraf.

It will be the first time that Pakistan has staged a major sporting event since hosting a quadrangular tournament in 1997. Pakistan also hosted some matches of the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

Australia put off their March-April tour to the trouble-hit country this year over security fears.

 

[Moin91]

Aussie players to boycott Champions Trophy in Pakistan

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia is heading towards a major crisis with its leading cricketers set to boycott the Champions Trophy in Pakistan owing to security apprehensions, according to a media report here on Thursday.

The 'Sydney Morning Herald' claimed most of the leading Australian cricketers would pull out of the event if the International Cricket Council is adamant to host the elite tournament, second only to World Cup in stature, in the trouble-torn country.

"It is going to come down to the individual's decision," an anonymous member of the Australian team, currently touring West Indies said.

"We have talked about it, and there are some guys who will go if security advice says it's OK. But there are others who have said they won't go, regardless. At this stage, we are waiting to hear more," he added.

Earlier this year, all-rounder Andrew Symonds did not hide his reluctance to tour Pakistan and Australia had no other option but to defer the full series to 2009-10 after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Though CA is aware of the players' mood, the board would prefer its player to play in Champions Trophy even though it looks a distant possibility now.

Incidentally, players from New Zealand, England and South Africa too are apprehensive about touring Pakistan.

Though the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board have been asserting that security would not be an issue for the players, the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) is not convinced yet.

19 Jun, 2008 1213hrs IST, PTI

 

[Moin91]

so what will ICC do if Australia will not come to pakistan to play champion trophy????

comon Aussiess.......

 

[Interceptor]

so what will ICC do if Australia will not come to pakistan to play champion trophy????

comon Aussiess.......

Well its not Pakistan's fault if they decide not to play in the tournament. There is a reason behind why the Aussie are know to be one of the worlds most racist countries.

 

[salman nedian]

so what will ICC do if Australia will not come to pakistan to play champion trophy????

comon Aussiess.......

It’s their choice, the show must go on!

They can go to the country whose player called Symonds a ‘monkey’ because they don’t deserve respect; we need to take a strong stand on this issue.

 

[khanz]

lol australians are such cowards they ain't going to FATA ! last time they didn't come and we held it successfully without them didn't they learn from it ? oh well their loss the tournament will go on with or withouth them.

 

[Flintlock]

Well its not Pakistan's fault if they decide not to play in the tournament. There is a reason behind why the Aussie are know to be one of the worlds most racist countries.

Rite....and they give special racist treatment to Pakistan for some reason.

 

[Flintlock]

It’s their choice, the show must go on!

They can go to the country whose player called Symonds a ‘monkey’ because they don’t deserve respect; we need to take a strong stand on this issue.

Heh...imagine that...an Indian being racist to an Aussie.

The tables have turned baby!

 

[Flintlock]

Aussies do tend to be picky about where they play. I remember they once refused to play in Delhi because of the pollution.

 

[Moin91]

Players terrified to go to Pakistan: Ponting

20 Jun, 2008 1350hrs IST, IANS
Australian captain Ricky Ponting admitted on Friday that his team is haunted by security fears in travelling to Pakistan to defend their Champions Trophy in September.

The skipper added his doubts to the growing concerns his team and players worldwide have in touring Pakistan in the holy month of Ramadan in September which is also the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks on America.

"You don't have to be Einstein to figure there will be some concern among our team. It's not just because we're Australian cricketers. Anyone travelling to Pakistan would have some sort of concern," Ponting was quoted as saying in The Australian on Friday.

Several leading Australian cricketers have reportedly said they would stand down from the most prestigious limited-overs tournament of the year rather than tour a nation they deem to be volatile and unsafe.

Australia called off its March-April Test and One-day tour and players are concerned about playing in the dangerously unsettled country so soon.

"We'll see what eventuates in coming weeks. It would be great for the game and great for Pakistan if the tournament went ahead," he said.

Ponting's concerns have been reflected much more strongly from player associations in Australia, New Zealand and England, and the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA).

FICA chief executive Tim May said on Monday that "absolutely nothing" had changed in Pakistan since Australia abandoned its tour three months ago.

Ponting said no player would be forced to tour if the team receives the all-clear to compete in the Champions Trophy.

"We all know you're expected to go contractually if selected on the tour, but it will come down to the individual and what they feel at the time," Ponting said.

"Hopefully, by that stage we'll have a lot more informed opinion. There hasn't been any talk about it at the moment, but you only have to turn the clock back a few months to understand there was some concerns then.

"It is going to be up to people in higher places than us to decide if it is any better than it was three or four months ago."

However, the captain said the decision on title-holder Australia's participation in the elite eight-team tournament would rest with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association.

Australian security consultant Reg Dickson will head to the strife-torn country to assess the security situation.

Dickason is the person who strongly recommended that Australia not tour Pakistan three months ago

"We'll know a lot more about it then but for us at the moment it's business as usual," said Ponting, who is preparing for Friday's Twenty20 match against the West Indies in Barbados and then the five-match One-day series.

 

[Interceptor]

Rite....and they give special racist treatment to Pakistan for some reason.

Yeah simply why should we treat the Aussie's more special, when they will arrive in Pakistan they will receive optimum protection, whats to cry about. The Aussie's are racist, that was always the case, Darrell Hair is no special case.

 

[PakistaniPatriot]

They are just afraid that they will get their ***** handed to them.hahaha

 

[Skywalker]

The aussies are not only racist but cowards as well. well its in their geans as we all know who their ancistors were...loosers

 

[Always Neutral]

so what will ICC do if Australia will not come to pakistan to play champion trophy????

comon Aussiess.......

Other than fining them I doubt ICC can do much. Its a pity if the Aussies pull out.

Regards

 

[Always Neutral]

The aussies are not only racist but cowards as well. well its in their geans as we all know who their ancistors were...loosers

Please clarify who their ancestors were which makes them cowards ?

Have you travelled to Australia ? Have you seen how laid back and hardworking they are ?

Please say what you said on this forum to Mathew Hayden on his face and you will know who is a coward.

If someone does not want to travel to Pakistan thats his personal choice and we must respect it.

Anyway its all speculation till now.

Regards