The demise of International Cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 – an alarming situation requiring immediate steps
2009 was a tragic year for the people of Pakistan. Not just because of the ongoing and consistent political debacles, but to the people’s despair, the year took away what Pakistanis loved the most, Cricket.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 2009 marked the awful terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team, touring the nation. The attack took place in the bustling city of Lahore, claiming the lives of six policemen and a driver while seven Sri Lankan cricketers along with the assistant coach were injured.
The attack manifested the end of international cricket from Pakistan as nations such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and India withdrew their scheduled tours.
The people of Pakistan took another blow as the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its plans to drop out the country as one of the hosting nations for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Ross-Morgan-c53203, quoted that “it would be very difficult for international cricket to be hosted in Pakistan for quite some time to come”.
However, it was even before the 2009 attack that the Green Caps were forced to play matches in other nations as a result of the US-led war on terror in its neighboring state of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745.
For a cricket frenzy nation, the loss of international cricket from Pakistan was too much to digest. A country that comprises of people able to withstand major wars, political disasters and natural calamities had now lost something that was dearer to them.
In a recent announcement, Pakistan is now scheduled to host http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and England series in the UAE, after the Lankans declined Pakistan’s offer to play on its soil.
“We have finalized both the series against Sri Lanka and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 and both will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai” informed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Operations.
The Director added that the hosts will play the Lankans later this year and face the English side early next year.
In the last nine years, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in the UAE.
Overall, this whole scenario has brought a distressed situation on the Pakistani crowd. National stadiums all over the country that once bustled with cheering crowds who stood for their heroes now stand pretty http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gordon-Muchall-c1499 haunted. All this seems a little unfair for the despaired people of Pakistan.
Previously, school and college breaks brought cricket out on the streets all over the country. Children, teenagers, youth, all used to hurl up to play ‘tape ball’ matches. It was a cricketing jungle out there.
Now all this is mostly ‘seasonal’. With rising interest in football, especially the English leagues, the young crowd are now seen kicking around footballs wearing jerseys covered with Manchester United or Chelsea logos, or of a club of their liking.
Does all this conclude to a true demise of the sport of cricket in Pakistan? Will cricket remain to be a seasonal sport in the country?
Arguably, the PCB too has to come up with solutions rather than clarifying controversies and allegations revolving around it.
Since the appointment of the infamous http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mal-Loye-c1879 of the PCB, the board has been busy with repeated clarifications, be it match fixing, players abandoning their team, or even frequent changes in team’s captains.
The state of domestic cricket in the country is also in shambles, given the continued ignorance by the International cricketing circles. The Pakistani players have not played in any foreign league since quite some time, leading to frustration and hopelessness.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Young-c98322 and emerging players of other competitive cricketing nations have had ample opportunities to hone their skills and rise as potential International cricketers.
With the popularity of Twenty20 leagues all over the globe, budding talent of every nation is being groomed.
However, Pakistan is badly lagging in this regard, having been ignored from all such competitions due to political rifts, especially with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, whose cricket board, the BCCI, holds immense influence on International Cricket.
The current situation requires immediate attention, otherwise, a country known to produce some of the best cricketing talent in the world, will lose its place and edge in competitive cricket.
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