Australia's tour to Pakistan unlikely

[four_or_six]

I maintain I don't know how "uncommon" this really is, but I'd certainly say I'd not be exactly keen on travelling to Pakistan myself right now. That might say I'm sensible, that might say I'm uninformed.

Whatever it is, it's clearly a sentiment shared by lots of Australia and I presume most people who have little to no understanding of life in Pakistan.

I pretty much agree with this... I don't think I'd like to go at the moment.

For the record, my company (big multinational) also has a 100% travel ban to Pakistan. These complete bans are extremely rare, normally some travel is allowed with constraints and appropriate security. I think I'm right that the only other countries on this level at the moment are Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[Burgey]

Just why is it soooooo important?

Generally, 2 men and a dog turn up to test cricket in Pakistan

You cant seriously be suggesting that the tour will revive the country's interest in the game or rescue the Board's finances?

If the state of cricket in Pakistan was so bad then surely their good buddies next door wouldnt have knocked back the invitation to play a few high revenue ODIs

It's important because how can you stay in England when a bomb goes off 25 kms away from where you are playing that day, but not go to Pakistan where a bomb has gone off 100kms away from where u r touring and weeks before hand? The problem seems to be that they seem to pick and choose which tours get called and which don't.

I'm not syaing it's a great place to go atm, but as I wrote in the piece, I reckon if they can at all go they should, even if it means individuals pull out and they send a not-so-strong side (which means Akthar will then deign to play ).

 

[pup11]

Just why is it soooooo important?

Generally, 2 men and a dog turn up to test cricket in PakistanYou cant seriously be suggesting that the tour will revive the country's interest in the game or rescue the Board's finances?

If the state of cricket in Pakistan was so bad then surely their good buddies next door wouldnt have knocked back the invitation to play a few high revenue ODIs

 

[pasag]

If they don't go, then they won't be able to go to the CT either and the chances are all the other teams would go, in which case you'll see a situation of - how is it good enough for us but not for them? I reckon they'll end up going in the end though, despite rumblings in the media saying the contrary.

 

[pup11]

It's important because how can you stay in England when a bomb goes off 25 kms away from where you are playing that day, but not go to Pakistan where a bomb has gone off 100kms away from where u r touring and weeks before hand? The problem seems to be that they seem to pick and choose which tours get called and which don't.

I'm not syaing it's a great place to go atm, but as I wrote in the piece, I reckon if they can at all go they should, even if it means individuals pull out and they send a not-so-strong side (which means Akthar will then deign to play ).

I agree, its not a great scenario when cricket tours get cancelled due to terrorist threats looming over it, because its a fact that no place on the globe is any longer safe, so if these terrorist want to target the Australian team or players they can do it in Australia, Pakistan or any other country, but CA has a responsibility and they need to make sure that the security of its team is their no.1 priority, so i can understand the decision they have taken, but its sad nonetheless.

 

[pup11]

If they don't go, then they won't be able to go to the CT either and the chances are all the other teams would go, in which case you'll see a situation of - how is it good enough for us but not for them? I reckon they'll end up going in the end though, despite rumblings in the media saying the contrary.

I don't think they would skip CT, its a ICC tournament and CA would get a lot of money to participate in it and Australia are also the defending champions so i can't see them skiping that tournament.

 

[pasag]

I don't think they would skip CT, its a ICC tournament and CA would get a lot of money to participate in it and Australia are also the defending champions so i can't see them skiping that tournament.

That would be an absurd scenario, with the CT only being a few months after the proposed Test series.

 

[Son Of Coco]

There is a difference between travelling to a random country that isn't known for it's tourists attractions and putting on a baggygreen and representing your country.

The tour is an important one and it's really annoying that we won't be going to Pakistan.

Of course there is...for instance, due to there being no 'Lahore Disneyland' traveller's safety is of the utmost importance. On the other hand, people representing their country should have other concerns that are far more important that their well-being.

 

[duffer]

I'd love the tour to go ahead. If only to see a Shoaib beamer clocking Haydos square on his grill and to read the outright condemnation of his actions on CW.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I'd love the tour to go ahead. If only to see a Shoaib beamer clocking Haydos square on his grill and to read the outright condemnation of his actions on CW.

I'd be giggling too much to type.

 

[duffer]

I'd be giggling too much to type.

Animal!

 

[Richard]

?

 

[NUFAN]

So Australia will forfeit the Test Matches.

Clean sweep for Pakistan... Cricket is the loser.

 

[silentstriker]

Lawson is pretty upset

I seriously think India should inform Australian cricketers that if they feel Pakistan is not safe, that they cannot guarantee India being any safer and the prudent course of action would be bar their players from playing in the IPL or touring in october.

 

[silentstriker]

Bingo!

Conduct a random world-wide poll and I doubt that more than a few per cent of people in western countries would travel anywhere near Pakistan at the best of times

So its safe for every other country to tour (even the arch enemies India toured) - except the precious Aussie cricket team? It's pure ignorance of the facts.

 

[silentstriker]

This is FCO's stance on Pakistan:

We advise against all travel to areas where there are reports of military or militant activity. This applies particularly to: northern and western Balochistan, including the Sui/Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas; the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, including Waziristan; Swat, North West Frontier Province (NWFP); and all border areas except for official crossing points. We also advise against using the rail network across the whole of Pakistan. See the Terrorism and Sectarian Violence and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.

....

There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan. Since January 2007 there has been a series of attacks and suicide bombings targeted predominantly at the authorities but occasionally also at locations frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. There is currently believed to be a heightened threat to Westerners in major cities. See the Terrorism & Sectarian Violence section of this advice for more details.

This is FCO's stance on India:

We advise against all travel to, or through rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir other than Ladakh; all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan (Northern and Western India), other than at the international border crossing at Wagah; and all travel in the Manipur and Tripura (East and North East India). See the specific Local Travel section of this advice for more details.

.....

There is a high threat of terrorism throughout India. Attacks have targeted public places, including places of worship. They could also target places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Since July 2006, there have been a number of terrorist attacks in major cities including Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad. See the Terrorism/Security and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.

Hmm......its completely logical to tour one and not the other. Especially considering they won't get Presidential level security during the IPL.

Oh, and just for fun, here are their pages on Australia:

There remains a general threat from terrorism in Australia. Attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreigner travellers. The Australian authorities have carried out a number of arrests as a result of investigations into terrorist networks. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.

And SL:

# There is a high threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka. In 2008 fatal attacks have become more frequent. They have occurred in Colombo and throughout Sri Lanka, including in places frequented by expatriate and foreign travellers. Further attacks may occur at any time. There is an increasing risk of British nationals being caught up in an attack. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.

# We advise against all travel to the north and east of Sri Lanka, and to Yala National Park and the areas around it.

 

[jeevan]

Just why is it soooooo important?

Generally, 2 men and a dog turn up to test cricket in Pakistan

You cant seriously be suggesting that the tour will revive the country's interest in the game or rescue the Board's finances?

If the state of cricket in Pakistan was so bad then surely their good buddies next door wouldnt have knocked back the invitation to play a few high revenue ODIs

India have a window of 2 weeks between return from Australia to the start of the SA tests. Otherwise this would've happened and was seriously considered in spite of tight schedule.

 

[Burgey]

Lawson is pretty upset

I seriously think India should inform Australian cricketers that if they feel Pakistan is not safe, that they cannot guarantee India being any safer and the prudent course of action would be bar their players from playing in the IPL or touring in october.

Honestly, I think that apart from the PCB, CA and the ICC, the other countries' Boards should stay out of it at a formal level.

By all means lobby behind the scenes, but I dunno if what you are suggesting might be contrary to your current signature.

Just out of interest, what's the FCO?

 

[silentstriker]

Honestly, I think that apart from the PCB, CA and the ICC, the other countries' Boards should stay out of it at a formal level.

I think (for once), they have to put cricket first, even if it means pressuring publically. It sets up a bad precedent and it says that CA is different to everyone else, because no one else is cancelling their tour.

By all means lobby behind the scenes, but I dunno if what you are suggesting might be contrary to your current signature.

The problem is that they aren't playing the game.

Just out of interest, what's the FCO?

Home Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK)

 

[social]

I think (for once), they have to put cricket first, even if it means pressuring publically. It sets up a bad precedent and it says that CA is different to everyone else, because no one else is cancelling their tour.


QUOTE]

Women's World Cup qualifiers were recently shifted to SA from Pakistan because of security concerns and other sporting events and business have been similarly affected

Bottom line is that a precedent has already been set by the ICC itself