Return of International Cricket to Pakistan

[lubnavir]

Source: "Former Indian Test wicket-keeper Kirmani optimistic for return of international cricket to Pakistan"

Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani has stressed the need for the return of international cricket to Pakistan, saying passionate fans should not be deprived of the high-profile action on their soil.

Pakistan has been deprived of international cricket following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team on March 3, 2009 in Lahore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is striving hard to bring back international cricket by inviting Bangladesh to tour the war-torn country next month.

The legendary Indian wicket-keeper, who was on a personal trip to Karachi, was addressing members of Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS) and Pakistan Sports Writers Federation (PSWF) -- affiliated with AIPS at a reception hosted by SJAS at Karachi Press Club.

He says: “It’s nice to be here after 20 years. It was memorable to visit the Karachi National Stadium where I first played back in 1979. I met some former Pakistan players there, including Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Bari.”

Kirmani represented India from 1976 to 1986 and was a part of their 1983 World Cup winning team.

“The entire subcontinent is passionate about its cricket and no part should be deprived of it. I really want to see international cricket making a return to Pakistan. The PCB, BCCI should start a new chapter.”

He is of the view that while he wanted the revival of Pakistan-India bilateral series, it was not in his domain to speak on the policies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown desperation over the revival of the series, BCCI’s continuous reluctance prompted the board’s chairman Zaka Ashraf to say that India was afraid of playing against Pakistan. However, Kirmani expresses discontent at the comments and says such comments should be avoided.

Earlier, Secretary General, SJAS Ubaid-ur-Rehman Awan welcomed him and briefed the members about his achievements in cricket. President, SJAS and PSWF Rashid Ali Siddiqui presented him an SJAS souvenir, while Secretary of the Karachi Press Club Moosa Kaleem honoured him with Sindh's traditional Ajrak. Present on the occasion were Senior Vice President Syed Nasar Iqbal, Treasurer Shahid Ali Khan, members Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Asif, Naved Arshad, Shoaib Ahmed Jutt, Zahid Ghaffar, Fawad Hussain, Irshad Ali, Tariq Hussain, Hasnain Anwar and others.

Kirmani was the quietly efficient worker ant who replaced the flamboyant Farokh Engineer behind the stumps for India, and went on to become their greatest wicketkeeper. His 12-year stint at the top saw a sea-change in the way India played. The early part of Kirmani's career was spent keeping wicket to the famed spin quartet, never the easiest of tasks. After they faded away, he had to step back a few paces to deal with a seam attack spearheaded by Kapil Dev. It is testament to Kirmani's greatness as a keeper that he was able to perform both roles with distinction. A doughty batsman down the order, he scored two Test hundreds and baled India out on several occasions. He played a crucial role in India's triumph in the 1983 World Cup, contributing a flourish or two with the bat in addition to being immaculate behind the stumps.

[Burgey]

The fans can be as passionate as they like. I wouldn't want the Australian team going there in a month of Sundays.

[Agent Nationaux]

The Australians won't even visit when Pakistan is safe.

[Kylez]

Originally Posted by Agent Nationaux

The Australians won't even visit when Pakistan is safe.

There's no such thing as a safe Pakistan, mate.

[Agent Nationaux]

Originally Posted by Kylez

There's no such thing as a safe Pakistan, mate.

Wow, thanks a lot for pointing that out to me and everyone else in the world who already knew that.

[kingpin]

No country is safe now a days....

[marc71178]

No place has ever been truly safe, but it's an undeniable fact that some are a lot less safe than others.

[Eds]

Originally Posted by Agent Nationaux

Wow, thanks a lot for pointing that out to me and everyone else in the world who already knew that.

Touchy?

[wpdavid]

Originally Posted by Burgey

The fans can be as passionate as they like. I wouldn't want the Australian team going there in a month of Sundays.

Ditto me and the English side. It's sad, but the attack on the SL team simply makes it impossible to contemplate a return to test cricket in Pakistan for eons. Especially for England who, barring the USA taking up the game, would be the prime targets for the psychopaths out there.

[Agent Nationaux]

Originally Posted by Eds

Touchy?

I used the words, "when Pakistan is safe".

[Agent Nationaux]

Originally Posted by wpdavid

Ditto me and the English side. It's sad, but the attack on the SL team simply makes it impossible to contemplate a return to test cricket in Pakistan for eons. Especially for England who, barring the USA taking up the game, would be the prime targets for the psychopaths out there.

I doubt anyone has anything against England in Pakistan.

[wpdavid]

Originally Posted by Agent Nationaux

I doubt anyone has anything against England in Pakistan.

I'm sure that it's only a tiny minority, but it doesn't take many guys with a grievance against our presence in Afganistan to take it out on our cricketers and we're in bloodbath mode.

[Agent Nationaux]

Originally Posted by wpdavid

I'm sure that it's only a tiny minority, but it doesn't take many guys with a grievance against our presence in Afganistan to take it out on our cricketers and we're in bloodbath mode.

Nothing to worry about since most Pakistanis want England and everyone else to tour once Pakistan is safe.

[marc71178]

Weren't the Sri Lankan's given presidential levels of security though and we know how that turned out.

It is impossible to say that because most people want it to happen that there isn't a significant risk of an attack if they did tour.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Agent Nationaux

The Australians won't even visit when Pakistan is safe.

Sadly, Pakistan hasn't been safe for Australians since this country joined with the Yanks in going to Afghanistan.

It hasn't taken long for the same decade-long rhetoric we had before the SL shootings to come to the fore again in certain parts of the cricketing world - that it's safe, that cricketers won't be targeted, people go about their lives there every day with no harm befalling them.

I don't buy it, sorry. I know there are many good people in Pakistan who would love to see their team playing at home again, and tbh it's a great time zone to watch from an Australian POV. But I would not go there. I would not want my son to go there, or any friend or family member of mine to play cricket there. I'm sorry to put it that way, but it's true. And I suspect many players and their families from here feel the same way.