News and Views

The cricket lovers are anxiously waiting for the England team's visit of Pakistan in the hope of witnessing an exciting series of 3 test matches and an equal number of one-day internationals. With England's glorious triumph over the full strength West Indies in the recently concluded home series, the keenness of people to see the highly energized England team in action has multiplied. To raise the level of excitement the stadiums at Karachi and Rawalpindi are being equipped with flood lights at the top speed to ensure that all the 3 ODIs are staged as the day and night events.

The England team is arriving in Pakistan on October 16 and playing the 1st one-day international at Karachi on October 24. According to the common view that prevails in the cricket circles the present England outfit is quite strong and well motivated. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram who has just returned from England is, however, of the opinion that England stands no chance in the forthcoming series against Pakistan as the tourists will find the conditions pretty tough. His views are based on the fact that since England is visiting Pakistan after a long gap of 13 years, the conditions would be alien to them. He thinks that off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who grabs 7-8 wickets per match for Surrey in the English county season, supported by back up spinners like Mushtaq Ahmed and Arshad Khan will hold the key for Pakistan's success. He proposes the series to be played on spin wickets. Skipper Moin Khan, however, thinks differently. He is of the view that "England are playing good cricket and have a mixture of young and experienced players. Some of their bowlers like Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick were bowling well in the English conditions. I am confident that the wounds of 1987 series have now been healed with the passages of time. We have visited England twice and will give them a warm welcome when they are here".

It may be recalled that England last visited Pakistan in 1987-88 when the series was marred by a row between England captain Mike Gatting and Pakistan umpire Shakoor Rana during the Faisalabad test. Pakistan defeated England 1-0 in the series with the legendary leg spinner Abdul Qadir taking record 30 wickets in 3 tests. While Pakistan has Wasim Akram and Ijaz Ahmed as the two survivors from the infamous series England team has none.

India's tour of Pakistan remains in suspense.

According to the international cricket calendar the England's tour was supposed to be followed by the visit of the Indian team to Pakistan. The reins of Indian cricket having fallen in the hands of the country's politicians the tour is unlikely to take place. Though the Indian Cricket Board wishes to fulfill its international commitment by sending the team to Pakistan, the political considerations have tied its hands. Politicians are a strange brand of people. They have minds that think negatively and operate in the wrong direction. They treat sports and politics with the same stick, creating tensions rather than improving relations. They have already destroyed the Sahara Cup and are now bent upon jeopardizing the Indo-Pak cricket series considered extremely vital for the promotion of cricket in the region.

The millions of cricket fans all over the world anxiously waiting for the series have a very pertinent question to ask. Despite the impending Kashmir problem India and Pakistan continue to maintain diplomatic relations. The trade relations between them are such that Pakistan is thinking of importing 100,000 tons of sugar from India. The Samjhota Express, a train that carries passengers between the two countries continues to maintain its weekly schedule, same is the goodwill bus service that operates between Lahore and Delhi. India has sent its contingent to Sydney to participate in the World Olympics of which Pakistan is also a participant. It is quite likely that the hockey teams from the two countries come face to face in a match. India is sending its cricket team to Kenya for the ICC Knock out tournament knowing that Pakistan team is also there. Then why such a great fuss about sending the cricket team to Pakistan?

The conclusion that the cricket fans draw from the whole episode is that India is avoiding Pakistan for the fear of a defeat. According to a press report Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia gave a very sporting offer to India. He proposed to send the Pakistan team to India if the Indian government decided not to allow its national team to visit Pakistan but the news has just been denied. He, however, feels that Pakistan and India should go hand in hand as far as cricket is concerned. After a recent meeting with his Indian counterpart in Dubai, the General said that the Indian government was certainly under pressure from its public while the Indian Cricket Board was also interested in implementing the tour. He was told that the tour depended on clearance from the Indian government.

Something that the politicians do not realize is that the international series are planned and finalized years ahead of the schedule with the approval of the ICC. Their abrupt cancellation does not only cause a financial loss to the host country but also creates a vital gap in cricket program that becomes difficult to fill. The months of January and February for which the tour was scheduled constitute Pakistan's ideal cricket season. It shall go waste if the Indian team's tour is cancelled. Let us hope the good sense prevails among those who wield the power.