Hypocrisy over security
Mike Selvey, in the Guardian , while looking at the ICC's decision to retain Pakistan as Champions Trophy hosts, calls for consistency with regard to how players view security issues.
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Mike Selvey, in the Guardian, while looking at the ICC's decision to retain Pakistan as Champions Trophy hosts, calls for consistency with regard to how players view security issues.
Meanwhile I await further evidence of what might at best be viewed as double standards by the players, and at worst hypocrisy. In 2005 Australia and England played one-day internationals at Lord's and The Oval just days after the July 7 atrocities in central London. If memory serves, there was no clamour to leave. Last winter England toured Sri Lanka even as bombs were exploding in Colombo and its environs. My family and I remained in Sri Lanka after the tour to enjoy a memorable Christmas and to appreciate that sometimes the reality outweighs the perception.
But there has to be some consistency. Many of those who express fears about touring Pakistan are the same players who have played a season in the Indian Premier League. On May 14 six bombs exploded in Jaipur causing at least 80 deaths and injuring 150. Three days later, in the Sawai Mansingh stadium, Rajasthan Royals beat Bangalore Royal Challengers, the players including Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis of South Africa and Shane Watson and Cameron White of Australia. I have not heard any concerns about the future of the IPL if such incidents continue. Would Kevin Pietersen, say, be so adamant about not touring Pakistan if he had just signed a £3m contract with Lahore Lightning in the PPL? Saturday's bombs in Ahmedabad, venue for England's first Test against India later in the year, give further cause for thought.
Ashok Ganguly is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo