Sri Lankan players willing to answer Pakistan SOS

Most international teams would balk at last-minute attempts to organise unscheduled tours in an already congested calendar, but Sri Lanka's cricketers have apparently informed the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) that they are willing to undertake a short tour of Pakistan.

Pakistan cricket, facing a financial crisis after the last-minute withdrawal of New Zealand in the wake of the US terrorist attack and India's cancellation of a three-Test series earlier this year for political reasons, sent a SOS tour invitation to the Sri Lankan board last week, to fill the gap left vacant by the CLEAR Black Cap pullout. The plan was for three one-day matches in mid-October.

The players were then consulted by the BCCSL and according to a BCCSL official: "The players have shown a keenness to go to Pakistan and help them out of a financial dilemma, after the support Pakistan gave us during the 1996 World Cup."

That support occurred five years ago when Australia and West Indies refused to play their World Cup qualifying round matches in Colombo after a Tamil Tiger suicide bomb. Facing lost revenue and a tarnished image abroad the BCCSL were rescued when players from Pakistan and India traveled to Colombo to play a hastily arranged curtain raiser.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya confirmed his players support on Thursday, saying: "We are willing to go. Pakistan helped us in 1996 and we would like to return that favour now if our government gives the all-clear."

The BCCSL are now awaiting clearance from the Foreign Office, which was contacted on Tuesday.

"Since the initial invitation was made to our CEO there has been no further communication, so once we get the clearance we will take it from there and ask the Pakistan Cricket Board whether they still want us," a BCCSL official said Wednesday.

The seemingly supportive position of the players is unexpected with tensions rising as a result of the massive US military build-up in the region and growing fears of a full-blown conflict.

The New Zealand team, who were in transit at the time of the terrorist attack in the US, wasted no time before aborting their tour of Pakistan and have shown little interest in an invitation for a shortened tour.

England's cricketers, currently touring Zimbabwe, a country that is being torn apart by violent land disputes, have already indicated a willingness to abandon a planned tour of India later this year. One columnist summed up the current feeling towards touring in the sub-continent: "At least half the party would happily abandon that on the pretext of a minor traffic accident in Delhi."

Graham Thorpe was the latest to voice concerns this week, saying: "As a player you would be extremely apprehensive about going out there and playing cricket in the current climate. It doesn't take a genius to work that out. Another month down the line it might be different but if the tour was coming up in the next few weeks then I'm sure we wouldn't go."

West Indies, due to tour Sri Lanka in November and Pakistan early next year, have called for an urgent review of all touring plans in a planned board directors meeting in Antigua this weekend.

So, Sri Lanka's willingness to play in Pakistan, a country historically close to the Taliban and where there have been violent anti-American demonstrations in the aftermath of the government siding with the US, is really quite remarkable, some would say foolhardy.

"We will ensure the matches will be played in areas further from the Afghan border like in Karachi and Lahore," promised the BCCSL official.

Nevertheless, despite such assurances, not all the players are believed to be supportive of the plan. One dissenting voice said: "Why should we risk our safety in Pakistan? The situation in 1996 and now is completely different."

A final decision will be made when the Interim Committee of the BCCSL meet on 2 October.