[News] Pakistan must act now, the sooner it's better

[Chanchal Chirya]

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's assertion that International Cricket Council's inaction has allowed Australia to pick and choose tours of its choice, does make a lot of sense. The sport's governing body always seems helpless and acts as mere spectator whenever Pakistan needs its support on a particular case.

The colour of skin does play a major role whenever there is a crisis confronting international cricket, and the ICC invariably sides with white nations, with India being the only exception sometimes. Regrettably Pakistan has lost a huge volume of international cricket, specially Test matches, this year owing to the cancellation of a visit by Australia and the Champions Trophy.

No Test team from Down Under has played in the country during the last few years, and it seems it might take a decade or two before the Aussies change their mind regarding touring Pakistan.

Though the Australians constantly refuse to play in Pakistan citing security concerns, they are always prepared to come to India. Their frequent trips to India are not just limited to cricketing assignments. Be it starring in a movie, or appearing in TV commercials, or coaching junior players the Aussies are always at ease flying into India. Money, of course, does play an important role and serves as the single greatest temptation.

Contrary to Pakistan India boosts a huge economy and holds a massive appeal for tourists. It pumps a lot of money into the sport through sponsorships and purchase of media rights. The country's awesome marketing potential attracts a lot of international stars, specially cricketers, from around the world and makes it difficult for them to resist the pull.

These days everybody who is somebody in sport and showbiz seems to be flattered with the idea of performing in front of Indian fans. The money they get for a brief appearance is too big. Former and current international cricketers are leading the pack and cashing in on the people's love for the game.

The Indian Premier League is a prime example. Players from almost all Test-playing nations figured in the last tournament and never once showed any concern regarding the security situation in that country and its proximity to two seemingly 'turbulent states' Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Though the two countries' record in this regard is not that impressive, no place in the world seems safe today. But the lure of money was so appealing that even the blasts in Jaipur could not dampen the enthusiasm of the foreign players during the IPL.

Even the Australians, including Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds, who's always the first to express his reservations regarding touring Pakistan, did not raise an eyebrow. Several white players were in the city when the blasts occurred, but nobody threatened a pull-out. Why? Because they knew they would suffer heavy monetary losses if they aborted the tour.

During the last couple of months Bangalore and Ahmedabad have experienced similar tragedies, and New Delhi has become the latest victim of such attacks. But these incidents of violence where hundreds of people lost their lives or sustained serious injuries could not stop the Australians from honouring their commitment of figuring in the Test and one-day series and have already landed in India. Won't the ICC be justified in asking the Aussies why they have agreed to play in India soon after the Delhi blast although they had cancelled Pakistan's citing security reasons?

Should not the ICC be seeking a clarification from Cricket Australia as to why they were reluctant to send their side to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and what had made them take a U-turn and play in India? The answer is simple: money.

People still remember that at the 1996 World Cup also, Australia along with the West Indies had forfeited their games that were scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka amid security fears. Even then the ICC had watched in silence and could not force the two teams to travel to the Pearl Island. Since then the Aussies have also refused to tour Zimbabwe over political issues and have also snubbed Pakistan on a regular basis.

Such actions by a member nation certainly render the Future Tour Programme (FTP) meaningless as last-minute tour cancellations affect Pakistan badly with no alternate plans in place.

Is it not tragic that Pakistan will not have played a single Test during 2008? With cricket being played round the year these days it's almost impossible for the Pakistan Cricket Board to make alternate arrangements if a series is cancelled or postponed. The financial implications in such cases could be disastrous.

The ICC still claims that Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy in October, 2009, but the Indians have already rejected the idea stating that at that time they would be hosting the Aussies in a one-day series. The India-Australia series was planned well in advance and therefore nobody can force the two teams to reschedule the tournament to accommodate the Champions Trophy. Though the ICC has insisted that the tournament would go ahead next year, the chances are fairly bleak as the situation in Pakistan does not look like improving in the coming months.

India always gives an impression that it backs Pakistan, but does it really? The BCCI could, and should, have used its influence and tell Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa to make the trip to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and make it a success, but it did not.

It's a sorry fact that today Pakistan finds itself in total isolation with none of the above-mentioned four nations willing to play in Pakistan. It's a situation where the PCB must approach the ICC instead of looking at its neighbour, the BCCI.

Pakistan needs to sort that issue out itself. In order to have a competitive side who're regularly engaged in playing cricket at home and abroad and a financially sound cricket board, the PCB needs to devise a plan in consultation with the ICC for countering the threat of cancelled events. Pakistan has already suffered a lot because of the ICC's inability to effectively deal with this issue.

But this matter is not as simple as it looks. Currently, the PCB is without a chief as the president has yet to nominate a person for this job owing to more important issues the state is facing currently. Appointments on political basis have brought the game where it lies now, mismanaged and in sheer mess. A shrewd personality having a cricket background and possessing true leadership skills is essential for fighting Pakistan's case at the ICC. Unless we have one cricket is bound to sink further provided thereís still some room available!