Players safety in Pakistan?

Question

Several countries are threatening to pull out of touring Pakistan due to fears over safety. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the main nations with security concerns, with England not far behind.

South Africa have again expressed concerns over touring.

But is Pakistan, which undoubtedly does have problems with terrorism, any worse than other countries? Or to put it another way, can the countries threatening to pull out say that their own countries pose no risk to anyone?

Take South Africa for an example. There are high rates of rape, robbery, and car hi-jackings there. Some areas have road signs highlighting areas that have high levels of car-jackings. 15 people have been killed this year in a new trend, which is to rob people in restaurants. Attacks on commercial farmers are widespread. People living in "Gated communities" are becoming more widespread, due to fears over safety. Businesses and households in the middle to high income bracket are hiring preivate security firms to protect them, as the South African Police Force is deemed to be slow and ineffective.

I am not picking on South Africa here. Every country has its fair share of crime. I am just using it as an example, as I know that many people have left due to worries over their safety.

Pakistan have never threatened to pull out of touring South Africa, or any other Test nation, due to fears over their safety, as they knew that the host country would provide adequate protection.

If Pakistan are prepared to offer adequate protection to their visitors, should other nations still threaten to pull out?

Answer 1

I think that players and teams should not be pulling out. The ICC have claimed that Pakistan is safe to go, if they get this wrong they are going to be claiming for a lot more.

Your right every country has it's worries, but with the right safety precautions there shouldn't be a worry. There was an Asia Cup held in Pakistan and because of the right safety precautions there was no issues. I think the players and teams need to think really hard, no cricketer has ever been killed while touring in Pakistan.

Something i am going to point out again because it irritates me, is the IPL. Shane Warne, Graeme Smith, Shane Watson were all planning to get on a plane back home after a few bombings, they were threatened that if they did leave they would have no furthur participation in the tournament (which basically meant no more money). None of them left, they played in the city that was bombed, the next match.

I think the ICC should bring in a consequence for teams who THREATEN to pull out of the tournament, Pakistan is not as unsafe as it is percieved. No one said that cricket matches were worth more than lives, but then again it didn't seem to matter in the IPL. It's the truth.

Answer 2

the other nations should ahead and compete in the program.

Answer 3

The problem with pakistan is that of widespread terrorism, not individual crime. The way they killed their two-term prime minister is an example. Every other day, there is a suicide bombing. Conditions do not appear to be right for a peaceful cricket match. Not yet.

Answer 4

why other countries pull out from this event.. ICC are satisfied.. so y people asking same question again and again

Answer 5

I think it is not right to pull out if they are being given presidential security.I think there is more politics involved rather than a genuine concern about safety.

A lot of double standards could be seen as well in situations like this and factions being made which isn't good for cricket at all.

During the Asia cup the stands were pretty much empty and only Pakistan/India games commanded a modest crowd.If the money is right the cricketers will play but the atmosphere may not be that good.

Answer 6

terrorism is a heinous activity , which can strike anywhere in the world, it has happened in unprepared america on 9/11 and unpreapred england too recently when there were bomb blasts and one man barged into the airport with a burning van, i think the safety is of highest quality , when there is a threat and when there is a national prestige involved, pakistan is bound to protect all the players and i don't foresee any threat to other country players in Pakistan. Pakistani people are one of the most lovely people in the world, it doesn't make sense to me to see some past political driven precedences and mingle it up with sport to do a boycott, pakistan is bound to protect players due to its national prestige at stake, asia cup was held sucessfully there recently ! i agree with you, South Africa is a much more dangerous place than Pakistan !

hope it helps

god bless

Answer 7

As Tim May stated this morning(The Daily Telegraph, Sydney) they are still to be re-assured as to player's safety, as they have not been shown all of these supposed 'safety measures' talked about by Pakistan.Forget anything Geoff Lawson says, he is one individual, our cricket team is a major representative of our country & what prestige it would bring to any terrorist group to get rid of it in one fell swoop. I don't understand your reasoning in calling for players to tour, & I don't think you understand that a cricket match is not as important as our players lives.

Answer 8

I understand your points,but not everyone wants to put their lives at risk..

All i seem to be seeing is people putting the Australian players down this is not about rubbishing players,it is about respecting their rights to say they do not feel safe in touring a country that is being bombed..

For me the other day when the ICC announced they were pulling the matches our of Rawalpindi was enough for me to say it defiantly is not safe.If the Icc did think it was 100% safe they would not pull out of the Rawalpindi matches now would they..Karachi and Lahore are they 2 places where the matches are to be played at..

I honestly am sick of hearing all this 'bravado' from supporters who are used to bomb blasts every second day..We in Australia DO not know what it is like to live in that sort of fear,and i do not expect ANY player from ANY country to put them selves at risk by playing...

Every one is entitled to their own opinion on this,but it comes down to player safety and if any player,has their doubts well it is up to them if they want to pull out..

All i know is we Aussies are going to cop all the c**p in the world IF we do happen to pull out...

I just wish ALL players,officials and any fans who do travel over there all the best,and i hope the PCB have done all they can to make all of our boys safe...

Good Luck to All Teams!!...

Answer 9

To add to the never-ending list of blasts, the previous day there was blast targeting policemen. read this http://www.dawn.com/2008/08/14/top1.htm .Now, if the police itself is not safe, how can they save others.

What makes Pakistan dangerous than any other place?

A few reasons

1. Pakistan is a haven for terrorists

2. Pak's intelligence agency (ISI) is in good touch with terrorists and helps them.

3. The nation is tormented by internal political agitations. US says Al-Queda is exploiting this ( http://www.dawn.com/2008/08/14/top8.htm )

I think everyone has the right to choose between, for they know what is good for them.

Answer 10

It is not just the players safety that should be considered . This sort of tournament should only be held in a country that is welcoming to fans . I do not think that can easily be said about Pakistan.

In any case this tournament is now a bit of a waste of time . It should be scrubbed completely and countries should concentrate on the world cup and now 20/20

Answer 11

I suppose we just need to respect the decisions the players and the country boards make as it is a question over the players (and touring fans) safety. It would be terrible if something happened to them.

I for one can't really comment on whether Pakistan is safe or not as I don't live there and am not one who knows a lot about the countries politics. If there is a threat to the players lives then by all means they should pull out and refuse to tour their. However you do bring up a brilliant point about other countries suffering from problems, can we really ever be 100% certain that nothing bad will happen to the teams?

Australia didn't pull out of touring England in 2005 despite the London bombings during that same summer. How could they be so sure that they were safe from harms way then? Even I was scared and I live in the Midlands! They went on to play an ODI match at Lords just a mere 2 days after the attacks. They played another ODI at The Oval and a further two Test matches in the London area.

I'm not holding anything against Australia by the way, I just thought I'd point that out. It appears that different rules apply to different countries and circumstances. :)

Answer 12

Dear Oracle,

Good evening!

Your question: But is Pakistan, which undoubtedly does have problems with terrorism, any worse than other countries? Or to put it another way, can the countries threatening to pull out say that their own countries pose no risk to anyone?

.

Negative, would be the answer... to what in all appearances must surely be a rhetorical question.  I have a colleague from Johannesburg South Africa. He once mentioned to me that his country had an astounding incidence of rape. 1 every second is what he told me. This is also true for many other countries. Of course, I concur with your views here, and would like to state that this regurgitation of facts is not meant as an affront to the South African members of this section. It simple serves as an example. The SA fans are great!

We generally keep our pleasant reminiscences and tend to forget the unpleasant if we can. For example, I can say even as of now, my most pleasant memories are of eating dried roti made by my mother under the cool shade of the Peepul tree. This exemplifies simple things in life that we remember until we die. I am sure you have many similar reminiscences. These pleasant memories tend to be in some way inextricably linked to ones surroundings.

My sentiments (and those of countless others that have lived awhile far away from home) are echoed by these words of Sir Walter Scott:

Breathes there the man with soul so dead

Who never to himself hath said,

This is my own, my native land!

Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,

As home his footsteps he hath turned

From wandering on a foreign strand!



However, some users choose to use derogatory adjectives to describe plural pronouns or common nouns whilst referring a country. This makes me question either their three-year-old like perspicuity or their mala-fide intentions. The regularity of these questions shows the urgency by which they need to make decisions for the Australian Cricket Board. Really, the answer is very simple; if some does not want to come, then they do not come. There is no coercion here. I don’t answer these questions, they are an abject waste of time, I will also recommend most of my friends to simply ignore these questions and the repeat offenders who ask them. I have noticed from some of the genuine answers to these questions were made by those people, such as yourself, who are known to me. They have (overtly or covertly) protested in these answers. I thank them, but, friends, I will recommend again do not waste your time answering these questions.

I am sure, as a very intelligent person and a person who has interacted extensively with different races, religions and ethnicities; you would agree that underneath the façade created by our external differences we are all the same. Reminds me of the poem where a "Naughty boy" runs away to "Scotland the people there to see"...but finds that the "ground was as hard as a yard". Therefore, what’s the point of answering these questions that seem to emerge here with metronome like regularity.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, it makes no sense for them to retaliate. Furthermore, from precedence I doubt if CA has the courage to confront BCCI. I guess herein lies the reason for the vitriolic outpourings of the misguided nationalistic selectors of CA who also happen to be the members of YA!

If Pakistan are prepared to offer adequate protection to their visitors, should other nations still threaten to pull out?

Its still upto the nations and the individual players really !

Good question Oracle

Rehman