IS Revival of International cricket possible in Pakistan?

By Nabeel Hashmi

After the fatal attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009 by armed men in Lahore Pakistan has become a “no go area” and the cricket lovers in Pakistan from then on have been eagerly waiting for international cricket to return to Pakistan.
After the Lahore attack, in which eight people were killed and several members of the Sri Lanka squad were wounded with Thilan Samaraweera escaping death narrowly. The attack led to the cancellation of international tours to Pakistan but the ICC formed a special task force, headed by ECB chairman Giles Clarke, to find ways of reviving them.
The questions should be asked from the people who were at the helm of affairs at that time. If the security arrangements would have been up to the mark the firing would not have continued for more than half an hour. It was a miracle that none of the Sri Lankan players died.
The radical event cost Pakistan hosting rights of the ODI world cup 2011 which was a huge blow to the hopes of millions who would have loved to witness the superstars playing for their teams in the supreme cricket competition. The decision infuriated the public, former and current players who reacted angrily. Pakistan cricket board retaliated against the ICC forcing them to revert their decision but it wasn’t to be so. The matter was resolved through a compensation deal between the board and International cricketing body.
India was blamed for Pakistan’s exclusion in hosting rights of 2011 world cup but in reality we should blame ourselves as it was due to our poor security arrangements that the Sri lankans were attacked.
At that time it was a correct decision by the ICC keeping in view the security of players but from then on things have changed and now cricket can be brought back to empty stadiums of the country which would welcome a go ahead decision from cricket fraternity. Recently, the home series against the mighty Aussies was also shifted to England adding misery to the frustration of people and players.
Pakistan cricket is going through a rough patch and unfortunately the support expected from the ICC and other countries is not forthcoming. How can we expect the sport to survive in Pakistan when the ICC is isolating Pakistan as a cricketing nation?
However, there is some good news round the corner as ECB have announced recently that they are planning to send a world eleven team comprising of stars from all over the world to help Pakistan in rebuilding cricket activity in the terrorism hit country.
Pakistan Cricket Board has suffered a lot in terms of revenue generation as they have been force to play home series on foreign soil. Furthermore the traveling and the long stays out of the country are not only physically exhausting but mentally wearing as well. Players have to be without their families for months which is very disturbing for them which eventually effect their performances as they find it very hard to keep their focus thinking what might happen back home in this period of uncertainty.
Similarly, cricket fanatics in Pakistan are thirsty to see their heroes playing back in their own stadiums against the top sides of the world. The decision by the English and Wales cricket board have doubled the joy for the nation as Pakistan is experiencing the worst flood in their history and this announcement by ECB chairman Giles Clark have brought smiles back to the people who are in dire need of happiness no matter from where it comes. Cricket is one of the major sources in the country which gives pleasure to the public. ICC and other cricketing nations should step forward to help Pakistanis to get out these traumatic conditions.
Ejaz Butt chairman of Pakistan cricket board have also welcomed the idea of tour of World Xl to Pakistan. If this tour goes on once then surely cricket would return to Pakistan and the world will soften their stance against Pakistan. People would be praying that this idea can be transformed into reality sooner rather later otherwise it would only remain a thought once this become stale.

City of lights bleeding

By Nabeel Hashmi

Gone by the days when Karachi was counted as one of the city of lights in the world for its peaceful nature and activities by the public extending to late nights but the tag should now be replaced with city of bloodshed due to the recent target killing events which has inculcated fear among the citizens.
The ongoing wave of assassination of innocent people just for the sake of proving dominance in the city has led to ethnic war between pakhtoons and mauhajirs which started as a political war between MQM and ANP and one should be wondering where this massacre and brutality would lead us?
Citizens have been traumatized and a person does not know whether he will be able to return home alive when he goes out for work. Family members have to suffer mental stress praying for their beloved ones to reach home safely because workers have to stay in their offices when successive events of riots and violence start.
I also had the privilege to experience this when I had to remain in the office for three days and two nights when an MPA of MQM, Raza Haider was killed and what followed was hard to believe. Within 48 hours approximately 87 people were killed, 250 were injured and hundreds of public and private vehicles were torched in the so called presence of Incompetent Police and Rangers who flew from the spot of the incidents and we depend on them to safeguard our lives, property and belongings.
Shooting, burning and slaughtering incidents in the industrial hub of Pakistan shows that humanity doesn’t exist among criminal who called themselves Muslims and does not even care about the Holy month of Ramadan. Furthermore, successive strikes have also affected the economy of the country.
Major political parties or we can say supreme political party in the city should realize that this metropolis belong to people of Pakistan. They must accept the fact that they are no more the whole soul King of Karachi, now there is another stakeholder in this part of the country and they should be given their due rights. If they can’t tolerate threat to their supremacy then they should come face to face with the leaders of their coalition partners.
The killing of innocent should be condemned but then again there is no use of raising our voices, as everybody knows this is a tradition of our country that whoever raises his or her voices is laid to rest. We can never prosper as a nation until and unless people change their mentality. They should respect the differences and accept the share of others in their domain.