Not in the spirit of the game
The ICC’s decision to ‘postpone’ the Champions Trophy which was scheduled to start in September in Pakistan, is a disappointing one, although it is far from surprising or unexpected, the News , in its editorial, says.
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
The ICC’s decision to ‘postpone’ the Champions Trophy which was scheduled to start in September in Pakistan, is a disappointing one, although it is far from surprising or unexpected, the News, in its editorial, says.
We are told ad nauseum that the fight against terror is a global fight and that it effects everyone; if it does, everyone should be showing a little more solidarity with Pakistan, especially since a huge bulk of public opinion in Pakistan already feels that this is the West’s war, not Pakistan's. This, it would seem, would have been an excellent opportunity to stand with Pakistan and reaffirm the global commitment to the war on terror by people from a range of different countries coming to Pakistan and taking part in a high profile sporting event. The shying away from Pakistan gives exactly the sort of message that should not be given — namely, the global community telling Pakistan that while it may be just us much our war as yours, you do the dying and if there is any risk involved, count us out.
Alex Parker, in the Times, a Johannesburg-based daily, writes: Pakistan needs our help and our support. Pakistanis need to understand that the rest of the world says, yes, we know you’re hurting, but we’re with you. Let’s just pray that the big guns of England, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa can find their way to tour Pakistan again in the coming years
Nevertheless, the sport's governing body needs to come to terms with the very obvious schism that exists in which cricket's landed gentry of England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (black majority country but still white dominated in cricket) is so frequently at odds with the nouveau riche of India and its sub-continental affiliates Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, writes Fazeer Mohammad in the Trinidad Express.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo