Australia Suspend Tour of Pakistan

[D.K]

Australia Suspend Tour of Pakistan

Pretty large in the world of cricket. Here are a few articles on the matter:

Foxsports

CRICKET Australia has postponed the upcoming tour of Pakistan indefinitely, claiming the volatile security situation left it with no choice.
CA informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of its decision last weekend, several days before the latest in a series of fatal bombings which killed at least 20 people in Lahore.

With the PCB refusing to play the series at a neutral venue it will now be put off until at least next year.

However, with Australia committed to a heavy international program in 2009, including a long Ashes series in England, 2010 or beyond seem more realistic options.

"Playing at a neutral venue was certainly one of the options that was put on the table," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

"At the end of the day that's something for the Pakistan Cricket Board. It's their tour, they're hosting the tour and we certainly sympathise with their position in understanding that they desperately wanted the tour to go ahead in Pakistan.

"We want the tour to go ahead, we want to play cricket against Pakistan and we want to play ideally in Pakistan.

"Right now it's not appropriate for us to be playing in Pakistan."

But PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Nagmi insisted the tour had been cancelled, rather than postponed.

"I can confirm they have conveyed to us that they have cancelled the tour," he said.

"We are disappointed and we are issuing a policy statement soon."
The ICC confirmed the series could be rescheduled.
"As per the agreement under the Future Tour Programs, there is a provision for rescheduling a postponed series with the mutual consent of two countries and it has happened in the past,'' an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.
The spokesman added that Australia would not be fined for pulling out of the series since the decision was "by mutual consent of the two boards".

Geoff Lawson criticises Decision

The Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has expressed disappointment at Australia's decision to postpone the tour of the country indefinitely, an announcement which came soon after twin bomb blasts struck Lahore, killing at least 20 people. Lawson said the team should have "come here full steam ahead".

"I don't think they are justified in postponing the series," Lawson, the former Australia Test bowler, said. "I am living in Pakistan and feel secure. I am disappointed, although it was expected. It is a shame that we are not playing Australia at a time when they are beatable."

Lawson felt the decision would affect Pakistan cricket. "There is an immediate disappointment of not having the best team in Pakistan and it's a loss for players, fans and administrators," he said. "It may have a major effect in the short term and it's up to the PCB to assure that it will not have a major effect in the longer run."

Lawson said the security situation in Pakistan was unrelated to cricket. "Bombs do go off," he said. "You can't argue with that. But they're focused on particular targets that have nothing to do with sport, and particularly nothing to do with cricket."

While Wasim Akram Backs the Decision

Former Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, backed Australia's decision.
"Under the current scenario, Australia is justified to take this decision,'' said the retired Wasim, who did not take part when Pakistan were forced to play their home series against Australia at neutral venues in 2002, also for security reasons.
"But I see far-reaching implications for Pakistan cricket, both financially and in sporting terms.''
Sutherland declined to say if the decision to postpone the tour, rather than cancel it, was influenced by the threat of heavy fines for breaching the Future Tours Program.

He said it was taken following extensive consultation with the federal government and independent security advisers.

"Ultimately the starting point is to look at the federal government's advice to Australian travellers to Pakistan and it's not favourable," Sutherland said.

"The question for us is to then have a closer look and say what are the implications for an Australian cricket team and given those quite serious warnings that are in place on DFAT's website."

I agree in full with the ACB stance. Pakistan is in too much political unrest for us to send a cricket team to play some cricket. Safety is the first concern for all players and officials and the right precautions were taken.

 

[schwab2clarkson]

Re: Australia Suspend Tour of Pakistan

Best thing that the guys have ever done IMO. It would be stupid if they went on the tour over there only to have a bomb go off near where they are staying.

 

[D.K]

Re: Australia Suspend Tour of Pakistan

Tour split in two one dayers first and then tests a year later

Australia to tour Pakistan in 2009 and 2010
Cricinfo staff
April 21, 2008
Australia will fulfill their commitment to tour Pakistan by touring there twice in two years, a joint statement from both boards said. The two legs will straddle the return series hosted by Australia in late 2009.
As expected, the five one-dayers and a Twenty20 will be played in the first leg, and this will be next year following Australia's commitments in South Africa. Australia will then return to Pakistan in August 2010 to play three Tests, with final dates and venues to be agreed depending on each nation's Future Tours Program (FTP) obligations. It was their FTP obligations which forced the tour to be split into two sections.
Australia, who haven't toured Pakistan since 1998-99, were originally scheduled to go to Pakistan in March, but postponed the trip due to security concerns.
PCB's chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf said: "Although disappointed that the tour couldn't be completed as originally scheduled, the PCB is very pleased that the Australian team will come to play in Pakistan twice. Our discussions with Cricket Australia showed both countries' strong desire to ensure the postponed matches were played in Pakistan"
"Today's announcement demonstrates Cricket Australia's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Future Tours Program and also to Pakistan cricket," Cricket Australia Chairman, Creagh O'Connor, said. "We're pleased to have reached agreement to travel to Pakistan to complete the postponed matches and to play in them in Australia as agreed under the FTP."
The PCB has also confirmed its FTP tour to Australia at the end of 2009 for three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20.

Some common sense has happened. Pakistan isn't stable and hopefully in 18 months time we will see a great one day series followed by an awesome test fixture 12 months later.

I feel Symonds still won't go but that is understandble