Should Australia tour Pakistan?

Barring a spectacular about-turn, Australia will not tour Pakistan next month. Enough noises have already been made to suggest that the security inspection after the elections in Pakistan will be a mere formality, with Cricket Australia bowing to the players' wishes.

Test cricket in Pakistan has been dying for more than a decade now - even matches against India don't get anything like a full house - and this could well prove the final nail in the coffin. And while Cricket Australia can talk about exploring the idea of a neutral venue, there's no conceivable benefit for Pakistan from such a move.

The ground reality is that both England and India (twice) have toured Pakistan since the war on terror began across the border in Afghanistan more than six years ago. And while the law-and-order situation took a turn for the worse after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, there's absolutely no reason to suggest that cricketers would be targetted.

I went across the border with the same trepidation as any other tourist back in 2004. In early 2006, I spent another six weeks in a country that some like to describe as a dangerous basket-case. The three months I've spent there have been among the most memorable of my life, and at no stage did I feel threatened or uneasy. I'd go so far as to say that the hospitality is something that every other cricket-playing country - barring perhaps the islands of the Caribbean - could learn from.

I don't recall any cricket tours of the UK being cancelled, even in an era when IRA bombs nearly wiped out Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet in Brighton. You can't help but think that Pakistan is paying the price for glib stereotypes coined primarily by the international media.

If political assassinations are the yardstick for abandoning cricket tours, then England should have left India within days of arriving in 1984-85, when both Indira Gandhi and the British Commissioner fell prey to extremist bullets. Instead, David Gower's team stayed on and won the series 2-1, their only success in India in the past three decades.

It's only right that players are given the freedom to choose whether or not they'll undertake a tour of this nature, but I'm sure I won't be the only one left with a sour taste in the mouth if the same Australian contingent arrives en masse in India for the Indian Premier League. Perhaps what Pakistan needs is a few fat-cat businessmen and actors waving the dollars about. 

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Comments

[Aidan]

Mick Dundee, try to play nicely with people and stop throwing your toys out of your Cot.

Mr Sooky Sooky La La.

Cheers.

[Sol]

Mick Dundee is about as popular as a smell in a space suit.

If brains were dynamite, he wouldn't have enough to blow his nose.

he he

[Jack]

Mick Dundee, you are a protected species on this site. You must be Dileep's brother to get away with some of your sledging. No wonder the ICC want to pull you in line.

Dileep - Pakistan is unnecessary risk.

[Mick Dundee]

Shame, we were making such progress;

It should be "Sad Loser are ......." not "Sad Loser is .....".
No comma between "poor" and "Mick".
Not having quotes around "Please get me some help" implies that it is you who is asking for the help (probably more appropriate but not what you were trying to say) and should have a question mark at the end.
Have you noticed that other than condemning your racist comments and correcting your English, I haven't had to resort to any insults or intimidating comments. I haven't made assumptions as to your social status, employability, physical size or your use of alcohol. Do you get this angry with everyone who criticises you?
As I said before, Charles, you really are a complete and utter winner.
One last thing.......

"The Pakistan situation is about Pakistan and it's own inability to govern itself. Nothing else. Something that has been the same for hundreds of years."

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was founded in 1956.

[charles]

Mick, You can't resist and that is why I am always the winner and you are just a poor little unemployed loser.

Poor, Mick.

I am not going to say anything but.................I just have to because I am MICK DUNDEE and I am HOPELESSLY ADDICTED TO BLOGGING ON THE INTERNET.

Please get me some help.

That's right, people who are broke and unemployed have nothing else to do but Blog.

Sad Loser is the only words to describe you.

As for Pakistan, there was another bomb overnight.

Dileep, be a realist.

[Mick Dundee]

Sorry, Dileep, I know I promised but I just can't resist.

"scoieties"?

Yes, Charles, you are so obviously a winner.

[Maha]

A request to the Australian Cricket Team: Oh please come to Pakistan, Aussies. We'd love for our team to play against you. And we'll treat you with great respect and hospitality. I'm not here to argue about America and Pakistan and pass comments about people from other countries. I'm just saying, if you don't come, you'll probably be able to earn tons of cash in the IPL or whatever. But you will also break 16 million hearts. Are you willing to pay that price for money? Ok, fine, so I'm being a soppy girl. I'll just say, come for Heaven's sake, I can assure you noone's going to be interested in bombing you up; a bunch of tourists with bats in their hands don't pose much of a threat to extremists. Be brave!

[charles]

No need for a last shot. I win Mick. You lose.

That is the problem with the Northern Territory, there is no one there except alcoholics and people thrown out of other scoieties like you.

But you are so TOUGH behind your keyboard, little boy.

As for Dileep, you have an Anti-US agenda and it is clear that all Asain block countries are on a collision course with Western philospohies.

The Pakistan situation is about Pakistan and it's own inability to govern itself. Nothing else. Something that has been the same for hundreds of years. Before any western involvement.

Dileep, don't play the blame game. Pakistan's problem is Pakistan.

[Dileep]

If you think that US foreign policy has nothing to do with what's going on in Pakistan, then I really don't know what to say.

[Mick Dundee]

Much better, just try not to get your 0's and o's confused next time. Its probably better if you stick to words that you're more familiar with, like R-a-c-i-s-t. I'm sure you've heard that one before.
By the way, no Australian would ever refer to an "unemployment benefit centre" we have Centrelink; but you'd know that if you'd ever been here.
This is too easy. I won't be wasting any more time on this so feel free to have the last shot.

[Garry (US)]

Dileep. Did you think just because you have a Cricket blog, no Americans would be reading it? Wrong! Your "US stooge" and "Rumsfeld" comments have nothing to do with the issue at hand. They simply show your political and national biases. And yes, you are anti-Aussie too!

[charles]

Thanks Mick

I will remember you next time I drive past an unempoyment benefits centre and hope that you get a job one day. How long have you been out of work now? 4o years. Tough mate.

[Mick Dundee]

There shouldn't be a comma between wasted and opinions. You should have put a full stop after opinions. Scaremonger isn't spelt with a U and is one word.
Come on, Charles, you can do better than this.

[mctwoheads]

That's right - Australians are cheats, liars, and only motivated by money. On the other hand, if Asian cricketers act in the same way they are mis-heard, misunderstood or the victims of a conspiracy or smear campaign. Many in Australia are still scratching their heads at this bewildering out-break of "double-think" on the sub-continent, and it now appears to have spread to the TOI.
In the interests of bridging the cultural divide, please understand that for most Australians, cricket is something we play on the weekend - it is only a game. For liberty, equality and the defeat of tyranny Australians will face the worst the world can offer, but for a game? While we understand that our brothers and sisters in Asia are desperate followers of this game, it is simply not worth risking life and limb for. If that means we only ever play against NZ, so be it.

[Everyone in the Rest of the World]

KP

England as a country is a cold dump

The English cricket team are useless

Any opinion of any Englishman doesn't count as they come from a 4th world dump.

Australia will ban going to England next year cause it is too much of a smelly

[john]

KP, I assume you are English.

Do the English still play cricket?

Only Badly and Very Badly.

Certainly their opinion on the game is no longer relevant.

[charles]

Who every you are under the id of Mick Dundee, you are a total disgrace to Australia for your stupid, useless, wasted, opinions, you know nothing. You are nothing.

Have I made myself clear.

Dileep is just a scare munger.

Australia's tour of Pakistan may be delayed by a month and shortened by 18 days after officials of the two boards met in Kuala Lumpur to thrash out a deal to save the trip. But the players are so concerned about the safety situation in the country, which held elections on Monday, that there are reports individuals may boycott the visit and a second-string side might have to be sent.

[bob]

Andrew Symonds will make himself unavailable for any Australian cricket tour of strife-torn Pakistan.

The dynamic allrounder indicated he would make such a decision late last year.

Symonds was far from satisfied that a tour of the nation could be made safely, despite today's news that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had agreed to delay the start of the tour until the end of March and shorten its length from 48 days to 30.

The delay is geared at allowing the country to settle down in the aftermath of the February 18 elections, the results of which appear could oust president Pervez Musharraf from his position of power.

The tour had originally been slated to include three Tests, five one day matches and a Twenty20 fixture, and must include a minimum of two Tests to fulfil International Cricket Council scheduling requirements.

"I don't think I would go, no," Symonds told Network Ten when asked what his position was on the tour.

"I just dread to think what would happen if someone got hurt, let alone killed.

"It's just a situation you'd never want to find yourself in."

Symonds also said Cricket Australia was aware of his view and that he would need to sit down and discuss the matter if plans did go ahead.

CA has long maintained the view that the tour will go ahead if safety can be assured, but will be canned if it cannot.

[Dileep]

And I shall certainly keep you posted, young Steve. Even a second-string side would be exciting to watch, if it means chances for the likes of Rogers, Bollinger, Noffke and Hilfenhaus.

[Steve]

The ball may be back in your court young man!

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/story/337887.html

Let us know when you'll be heading off to cover the series Dileep.

[KP]

Turk & Charles - you guys are tunnel visioned, if the Assuie players were truly patriotic then why would they want to cancel a tour representing the Australian side to play in domestic 20/20 competition. Money talks, and the Assuie guys want it, even it means not playing for the baggy green caps.

I won't be watching the IPL as it has got nothing to do with supporting your state / national side, but commercialism gone too far - how can an Indian supporter cheer a team with ponting / symonds, how can a Aussie supporter cheer a team with Harbarjen Singh / Dhoni etc..

[Mick Dundee]

OK Charles, who is your federal member of parliament and what's your postcode?
If I am wrong and your a dinky di, true blue Aussie bloke I unreservedly apologise for causing you offence. I also worry that our educaton system isn't working.

"Go home Indian crickets, we don't need you here. And don't let the door hit your backside as you leave."

If you are really are Australian and you typed this you shame yourself, me and all those who wear the Green and Gold.

[Turk Davies]

Dileep = Anti-Australian

KP = Jealousy

[KP]

I think all Australian players shoudl be banned from playing in the IPL, in particular M Clark, A Symonds and r Ponting - these are the guys that cheated there way into winning the 3rd test and have no respect for the game or any other test playing nation.

Indian fans (these are the guys that are bringing all the monies to IPL / BCCI) should boycott the IPl with the Australian players.

And yes I agree with Dileep, the prseure is only being applied so that greedy / envious Austrialn players can make some extra cash, its all about the money and there will be loyalty in the teams they play for, so why as a cricket fan woudl I want to watch this rubbish when there is passion in teh team that you are playing for?

[Argus Tuft]

The outcome of the vote will be watched keenly in Western capitals concerned about Musharraf's ability to tackle Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants based in Pakistan's tribal areas on the Afghan border.

In political violence, five people were killed in the eastern city of Lahore, including a politician from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party standing in provincial elections that are also being held on Monday.

Another Sharif supporter was shot dead elsewhere Monday, while bombs exploded in Pakistan's insurgency-hit northwest and southwest. Six people were injured when rival supporters clashed with sticks in one district, police said, and there were reports of clashes involving gunfire in several towns.

[japaljarri]

Dileep is not anti-australian and is one of the most reasonable commentators in world cricket in my opinion. l disagree with his initial stridency on this issue and lack of an objective informed evaluation process but we are all entitled to our points of view. Certainly do not question that he is fine commentator who is a finer commentator than any of us dribbling around on this forum.

[The Truth]

Millions of Pakistanis defied bombings and shootings on Monday to vote in critical parliamentary elections that could threaten key US ally President Pervez Musharraf's iron grip on power.

The polls had been delayed by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a suicide attack in December, and they cap a year of political turmoil and bloodshed in the nuclear-armed Islamic republic.

In violence that began on the eve of the vote, six people including a candidate were shot dead and several small blasts near polling stations heightened tensions, despite the presence of around 80,000 troops on the streets to provide security.

Opposition allegations of widespread rigging have also added to uncertainty over the vote, which was intended to complete a transition to civilian rule eight years after Musharraf seized power in a coup.

"I am not afraid of bomb blasts... I am far less courageous than Bhutto but I would be ready to die to achieve her mission," Sakina Bibi, a 60-year-old supporter of the slain ex-premier, told AFP in the southern city of Karachi.

Maybe the Austraian crickets are not be ready to die to achieve her mission.

[jarques]

Nice comments by Harsha Bogle on Inside Cricket.

Soon there will onyl be 4 or 5 countries who play cricket.

New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbarbwie cricket is all dying.

Test Cricket is in the gun as well.

In 25 years time the theatre crowd will worship 20/20 cricket and that will be the No 1 form of the game in the world.

THE IPL will be like the EPL and it will consume all cricket around the world.

ICC tests will be secondary.

Playing for your country will be secondary to playing in the IPL.

[charles]

Mick Dundee (sic), you would be lucky to have a 2nd grade education with your comments.

Dileep is anti-australian. How can he not be. His whole essence is pro-sub continent. Each of the comments he makes in his own blog show this.

[James S]

Dileep, The man who has made the decision to pull the pin on the Australian tour of Pakistan is the Cricket Australia Manager of Operations, Michael Brown.

Mr Brown has been paid off by the IPL to make this decision SO that the best australian cricketers can play in the IPL rather than tour Pakistan.

This is your scandal in cricket.

Payments under the table to cricet executives like Micheal Brown so the IPL gets what they want.

It is also just the start as the IPL will eat into the ICC tour itinerary.

Michael Brown was also the person who swept the Harbijhan Singh racial issue under the carpet without any resolution.

Micheal Brown must be stopped as he is a very corrupt person and is public enemy No 1.

It is the most important issue so cricket can get back it's honesty which is whyat it has lost through the whole IPL process.

[Steve]

"I'd love to go and cover the games if they were on, but I'm pretty sure I'd be dissuaded from doing so by those I love. Which is also why I would never be critical of those that pulled out for personal reasons. I just think the board should think long and hard before doing so. "

I cannot believe you said that Dileep!!!

You're less of a target than any of the Australian cricket team or their support staff and yet it's fine for you to bow to pressure from YOUR loved ones, and not for their board to stop the tour because of pressure from the cricketers and their loved ones....

How do you justify that? You can stop harping on about England's Tour as well....the situation has worsened considerably since then.

No sporting contest involving western international teams is likely in Pakistan right now.

[Mick Dundee]

Hi Dileep,.
I've been reading your blogs for a while and haven't picked an anti-Aus flavour. Its probably a sign that you've got it about right when both sides claim you're biased against them.
However, I don't think all the people claiming to be Australian in this string are fair dinkum. The phrasing of some of the more extreme pro Australian nationalist rants comes across with a detectable subcontinental accent (Charles); and to be fair, some of the others are obviously written by people who's lips move while they read(Rudd,Rusty). At the same time I think it is safe to say that a number of the comments posted in support of the Asian point of view have been contributed by people whose access to scissors should be restricted.
Fact is you can't make people go if they don't want to.
I voted "Unsure" in the poll above but in the unlikely event that I was ever asked to go I am pretty sure my wife would need some convincing that it was a good risk to take.
On the other hand, I would feel more comfortable about the players motives if the decision not to tour also meant ineligibility for the IPL or am I being a little too cynical?
Facts are that Australia is currently the best side in the world and can afford to be picky about who and when they play.
As has happened before, in years to come another team will come up to replace them and the wheel will turn again (look what happened to the mighty Windies). At that time the new champions will decide their schedules to suit themselves and Australia will have to take what it can get.
Besides, does anybody really think that seeing Australia play Bangladesh in a two day test would be worth the ticket price?

[Dileep]

Thank you, Peter. You're spot on there. I'd love to go and cover the games if they were on, but I'm pretty sure I'd be dissuaded from doing so by those I love. Which is also why I would never be critical of those that pulled out for personal reasons. I just think the board should think long and hard before doing so. It sets an unfortunate precedent and only the lunatic fundamentalists benefit from it. Everyone else, especially the cricket-lovers, loses out.

[Peter b]

First can people stop abusiing those with contray views

Two, Charles does not speak for all Australians and certainly not this one

Three- The security experts need to make the decision

Four- If you don't do something because of fear then the terrorists have won

Five- I would love for australia to go

Six. This is where it gets complicated & perhaps I the logic breaks down. While I would be ready to go as a player (particularly if I was single) if it was my son selected I would do everything in my power to dissaude him. Emotional & illogical but that's the human condition

[japaljarri]

Should Australia and Pakistan disagree over the safety of the tour then the ICC will appoint independent experts to assess whether it is safe to play the scheduled three Tests, five one-day matches and Twenty20 game.

It appears the ICC would have no choice but to recommend that Australia not tour after the world governing body moved an ICC women's World Cup qualifying tournament from Pakistan to South Africa last month.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23229822-5001505,00.html

[Dileep]

England toured in 2005, a couple of months after the bombs in London. The situation across the border in Afghanistan was no better or worse than it is now.
I don't think the ICC or Cricket Australia are experts on security. As for independent observers, I was in Sri Lanka when such a team rubber-stamped South Africa leaving before the start of a tri series (2006). I won't even bother to go into the details of what an almighty farce that was.
When teams tour Australia, all security arrangements are in the hands of the local board and law enforcement agencies. The PCB, the army and other law-enforcement agencies say that they can guarantee the team's security (comparable to that for visiting dignitaries).
As far as I know, no visiting player has ever been harmed in Pakistan. If my memory serves me right, the last international cricket to get into a really bad scrape was Marlon Black, and that was in a Perth nightclub?

[japaljarri]

Have England toured since the rise of recent trouble or are they facing touring soon after the current election? Not sure of the relevance of the Bhutto argument. She is far from the only person killed recently. My point is not whether Australia should or shouldn;t. l have no idea and am not in a position to make that judgement. l am surprised that you consider yourself to be. Surely the ICC should have kind of independent evaluation process for such concerns?

[Dileep]

Are Australian cricketers really more at risk than English ones, given that Tony Blair was even more of a US stooge than John Howard? I make no claims to be a security expert, but what I do know is that the team will get the security accorded to visiting heads of state. Whatever else she might have been, Benazir Bhutto was not that, and there are enough conspiracy theories about her assassination anyway.

[japaljarri]

Yes of course 'weapons of mass destruction' etc but otherwise we rely on cricket experts to make security assessments? What are you suggesting otherwise as a fair and objective assessment process. l don;t care if it is Australia, Pakistan or Antarctica, the players must be safe as is possible. You don;t think Australian players would make a powerful target? Especially given the mistakes of the Australian government on aforementioned issues. l am surprised at the boldness of your judgement on this. To me it seems a very difficult decision to make and l would defer to relevant experts rather than journalists or cricket boards.

[Steve]

Probably better to make the decision not to go than to go and pull out halfway through...for whatever reason...eh, Dileep? I'm also happy for that decision to be made by people in the know, as long as you concede that you don't have any inside info on the situation either...

[Jack]

Dileep, great blog.

Like the current India v Australia one dayer, the issue goes down to the wire on both sides.

[Dileep]

Japaljarri, as long as the security assessment is made by those with a clue, I don't have any issues. But if decisions are going to be made by Donald Rumsfeld clones, then there's a slight problem. Remember weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

[Steve]

What has going to India to do with touring Pakistan? And do you really think comparing bombings in earlier decades is even a vaguely serious comparison? I was in Kashmir as a backpacker when there was a civil war just starting there - and no, nothing happened to me either. I felt completely safe. But was I really? No doubt the tourists caught up in bombings everywhere felt the same, just before they got hit.

Dileep - You must be naive in the extreme to think that the isolated British bombings or your visit to Pakistan two years ago as an Indian journo, is comparable to a major sporting team of one of the USA's closest allies touring Pakistan in its current extremely volatile situation of great instability, not just after one bombing, but after months and months of chaos. And modern xtremists think nothing of bombing tourists and visitors - look at Bali - westerners are a popular target these days, you know. So why not in Pakistan, so much closer to the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world today.

Oh, there was yet another suicide bombing in Pakistan today, troops again on the highest alert - but it's as safe as houses, isn't it?

[S Williams]

This blog only confirms what I have believed for a long time: Indians and Pakistanis are EXTREMELY BAD losers. Nor are they generous in victory.

The Aussies have a perfect right to not go to Pakistan - a country in meltdown it would seem.

Life is more important than cricket. Get your perspective right, and stop crying into you milk.

[Steve]

Opened the local rag this morning as I usually do before logging in here....

Headlines about another bombing in Pakistan and lots of deaths!

Do you guys really think that as long as this goes on and the election posturing of the political classes in Pakistan continue toi inflame emotions that the ACB is going to go aganist advice and tour?

The cricketers are employees of the ACB and labour laws here would mean that directors of the ACB as well as it's employees could be held personally liable in a court of law for any injury or deaths that occur in the course of those cricketers' employment.

Call the ACB what ever you like, but the fact is that no foreign cricketers coming to tour Australia will face a similar threat ever.

Having "No Ball!" yelled at you when you run in to bowl, whilst offensive, is not life-threatening is it?

[Rusty]

Here comes the moralizing again! Who cares what you think. We know that India are now the "800lb gorilla" of cricket (to quote Gideon Haigh recently) but it does that mean every time some Indian starts mouthing off self-righteously (and that word seems to be one of the defining characteristics of Indians) or tries to throw his weight around , we're all supposed to bow down and kiss your feet?

And this moralizing from that nation that every time it doesn't like an umpire's decisions, has them wiped from their sight. That squeals about the spirit of cricket while dissenting and over-appealing in every match they play. How much more hypocritical can Indians get!

[japaljarri]

Dileep

Surely this is for people with greater knowledge and information about security threats. Like the Department of Foreign Affairs?

[Jack]

Everyone wants ot play Australia because we are the only country that sells TV ratings

[Charles]

Dileep

You have shown your true colours Mate.

You are Anti-Australian.

You and your Indian mates can read this.

The Aussies will always be the most important country in World Cricket and you Indians with all your worthless money will always be in our wake.

If we don't want ot play Pakistan - bad luck.

If we don't want to play India - bad luck.

As all of Australia said after the Harbijhan incident.

Go home Indian crickets, we don't need you here. And don't let the door hit your backside as you leave.

Dileep, I say the same thing to you, on behalf of all Australians.

[James]

What have the Australian's to gain from touring Pakistan? Zero. The only reason to tour would be for goodwill and since the Asian cricket boards are not exactly giving any of that off in Australia's direction at the moment it is hardly suprising that Australia should recipricate in kind.

But as an alternative since Australia have postponed some matches against Bangladesh how about Bangladesh touring Pakistan in the place of Australia?

[Dileep]

It's not about the Australians alone. I think a lot of people are worried about the manner in which the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board divide the pie up amongst themselves. They play each other every two years and can't really be bothered about the others (Bangladesh have yet to be invited to India, and Australia have just refused Bangladesh Tests citing the Olympic games as an excuse).
If we're not careful, cricket will become a three-nation sport, with South Africa and Sri Lanka cast in the role of occasional spoilers.
It's the responsibility of the cash-rich boards and the ICC to ensure that the game thrives everywhere. Right now, that's certainly not the case. Even teams like New Zealand and Pakistan are left looking for scraps from the Future Tours programme.

[Steve]

It just seems Dileep that every time you start a blog, it ends with some Asian attack on Australians for being the bad boys of cricket.

You might have some heros who are Australian but you should tone down your diatribe towards every decisiion that the Australians make.

I personally don't mind the Asian attacks on Australia as an englishman but each blog seems to aim at the same topic.

The Ausssies are bad boys of cricket.

I am not sure it is so accurate.

[The Indian]

I went to lahore on March 2006. It was my first wist to "enemy" land. My colleague and good friend was getting married. Getting visa from Pakistan high commission was a chore that I don't what to do again. They seriously thought that I was some kind super RAW agent. Thats another story. Anyway my stay there was most enjoyable. The people were so helpful, that I honestly hope that the lads in mumbai should learn how to be polite instead of staring at the BSE index.

As an Indian, I enjoyed every moment I spend there.

Given a chance, without the Pakistan High commission, I will visit there again.

On to cricket, BBCi's shuklaji has made a statement that Auz should go to Pak. I suspect that him and the likes of Modiji will be the most happy if its canceled. They get all the lads to play 4 IPL.

I think one advantage Indian admin lads have over every other one is that they have come up in jungle called indian politics.

I suspect Shuklaji's comment was ment to keep the asian block of voting together. And not let others to divide and rule again.

[Dileep]

Some of my friends would die laughing if they knew I'd been called anti-Australian. My first cricket heroes wore baggy green, my favourite modern-day cricketer was Steve Waugh, and I really hope Shaun Tait makes it back. That doesn't however make me a fan of Cricket Australia policy or some of the carrying on out in the middle. Does a distaste for BCCI bullying tactics make someone anti-Indian?

[Steve]

Dileep, why are all your blogs a veiled attack on Australia and Australians?

Why are you so anti-Australian?

[Jilta]

Australia is only good for meat pies.

And most Pakistanis are vegitarians.

That is the problem.

[Jaffer]

Time for the ICC to do something, anything and not act like a limp useless organisation.

[Little Tommy]

I love Australia and Pakistan and I hope they play cricket for ever and ever in harmony.

[Sachel]

One day when Pakistan and India and Sri Lanka are the World Champions of cricket, the whole of Australia will pay for not treating us with respect.

[Sylvia]

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[Rudd]

The Australians are the WORLD CHAMPIONS Mate.

The beat the Rest of the World a few years ago.

Not only that, they have the best consiousness and awareness of any country in the world.

To be an Australian is to come from God's country.

A mullticultural place, where people actually get on with each other and the level of debate and understanding is higher than anywhere else in the world.

Multculturalism has made us strong.

We have taken the best from the rest of the world and made them better.

The Australian people are as smart and savy as any place on the planet. They are the best race and building bridges too.

They are World Champions on and off the field, and have been for decades.

Australians are leaders in everything they try. Everything they put their minds too.

You only have to look at Australia's outstanding Olympic record since 1896 when Edwin Flack shocked the world to know they are the best sporting nation on the planet.

The number of doctors, sugeons and bankers that are exported to the rest of the wordl shows that Australians are top notch in every endevour known to mankind.

So I would suggest after much analysis, the very switched on and aware Australians have decided not to tour, there is a bloody good reason.

[Mendis]

Who are these Australians anyway?

And why do they keep making us Asian countries upset?

[The Fly]

The Fly says that this is an example of why we can not get along as people or as countries. There are so many extremists out there and Dileep, you seem to catch most of them strangely in your blogs.

Pakistan is a great country or will be a great country in a few years when Democracy is confirmed.

Then my friends, the Aussies will be jumping over themselves to visit and tour our country.

But for now, if they don't want to be here, we don't need them.

It seems we will never ever get along.

Peace to you all.

[Serge]

There is a clear Asia v Rest of World flavour to the blog.

I think there is the problem of International Cricket in a nutshell. After the 2nd test in the recent Australia v India series, it is only going to get worse.

The Asian block is trying to bully the rest of the world and when Australia stands up to them, they claim - foul.

This is the problem in world cricket for the next 20 years or so.

[Adam]

Dileep, You claim Cricket Boards and the ICC are only interested in Money. Tell us something we don't know!!!

[V. Prabhakar]

Dileep,
Much as you and a lot of Pakistanis may want it otherwise, the reality of the matter is that absolutely no sportsperson in any sport wants to go to Pakistan. Do you believe that the ATP tour, the PGA Tour, football, basketball or any other sport for that matter would even consider staging events in Pakistan. The answer is obviously no. So why blame the Australian cricketers for not wanting to go there. The reality is that the case for this tour was lost when the FIH moved the Champions Trophy hockey tournament away from Pakistan to Malaysia because Germany, Holland, Spain, Australia etc. did not want to send their hockey players to Pakistan on security grounds. There cannot be one rule for cricket and another for other sports. Cricket is not more important than other sports. The bottom line is Pakistan will be shunned by the international sporting community till some form of normalcy is restored. Accept that reality and move on.

[Dileep]

I certainly wouldn't be critical of any players that skip the tour for personal reasons. But the board needs to do its best to make sure the tour goes ahead and then assemble a team of players that wants to tour. Am sure those on the fringes like Phil Jaques - who's already been in Pakistan with the A team - might have a different viewpoint.

[Dileep]

I'm with you there, Paul. There's just not enough of an effort to try and understand the other viewpoint.

[Dileep]

Some of the comments have nothing to do with the issue, and are just intended to denigrate another group of people. Obviously, they're not going to be published, especially posts calling for murder and suicide bombings. The same goes for crude generalisations about Pakistan and Asia that say more about the author than anything else.

[Adam]

Sorry mate.

If there is a chance that your noggin will be blown off, you have to stay at home.

Wife and kids have to come into it.

[June Summers]

Me thinks it is a lot more complicated than most people think.

[Asif]

Martyrdom is not the monopoly of Islam (though it is the monopoly of spiritual, religious, and divine systems, and cannot be claimed by followers of materialistic schools). Islam introduces its own concept of martyrdom. An Islamic concept should be explained within the framework of Islam, and not, by Muslims or by non-Muslims, in the light of non-Islamic concepts such as guilt and suffering. Muslims are not allowed to explain Islamic principles without taking due consideration of the entire conceptual system of Islam. Shahada thus cannot be explained purely in terms of intercession and mediation. That is to say, those early martyrs of Islam volunteered for death to be able to intercede and mediate for sinners on the Day of Judgement.

The Islamic concept of intercession and mediation (shafa'a) should be appreciated within the framework of the principle of causality, and not solely as spiritual mediation.[7] Islam rejects the Christian concept of mediation without the personal responsibility for the salvation of oneself.

The concepts of martyrdom and Holy Struggle in the cause of Allah are interrelated. Both words have been frequently used in the Holy Qur'an.[8] In fact, there is no martyrdom without struggle in the cause of Allah and for the cause of the truth. Both words have literal meanings different from their terminological meanings, although these terminological meanings were originally based on the literal meanings.[9] They developed their terminological meanings later on, though the term shahada was used in the Qur'an for those who were martyred too.[10] The Islamic concepts of both shahada and jihad have been misunderstood, particularly by non-Muslims, mainly by Orientalists.

The word shahada is derived from the Arabic verbal root shahada, which means to 'see', to 'witness', to 'testify', to 'become a model and paradigm'. Shahada therefore literally means to 'see', to 'witness', and to 'become a model'. A shahid is the person who sees and witnesses,[11] and he is therefore the witness, as if the martyr witnesses and sees the truth physically and thus stands by it firmly, so much so that not only does he testify it verbally, but he is prepared to struggle and fight and give up his life for the truth, and thus to become a martyr. In this way, and by his struggle and sacrifice for the sake of the truth, he become a model, a paradigm, and an example for others, worthy of being copied, and worthy of being followed.[12]

In this process, the keyword is 'truth' (haqq), its recognition and declaration, the struggle and fight for it, and the preparedness to die for its sake and thus set the model for the seekers of truth. The goal, motive, and the whole aim is the establishment of the truth. Jihad is the means for establishing the truth, and may lead to martyrdom, but does not necessarily lead to being killed for it in the battlefield, although it necessarily involves the continuous Holy Struggle, and death in the cause of the struggle.

We may therefore conclude that there is neither jihad nor martyrdom outside the realm of truth, that martyrdom applies only when it is preceded by jihad, that jihad is an inclusive struggle for the cause of the truth, that a mujahid dies the death of a martyr even though he does not fall on the battlefield. He dies as a martyr even though he is not killed, on the condition that he stays loyal to the divine truth and stands ready to fight for the truth and to defend it at all costs, even at the cost of his own life. He is a mujahid while he lives, and a martyr if he dies or is killed for it.

We have explained that a martyr establishes himself as a paradigm and a model.

[Paul Lillywhite]

Can't we all just try and get along?

(hides Head in hands)

[Wasim Raja]

The concept of martyrdom (shahada) in Islam can only be understood in the light of the Islamic concept of Holy Struggle (jihad) and the concept of jihad may only be appreciated if the concept of the doctrine of enjoining right and discovering wrong (al-amr bi'l-maruf) is properly appreciated, and good and bad, [2] right and wrong, can only be understood if the independent divine source of righteousness, truth, and goodness (tawhid), and how the Message of the divine source of righteousness and truth has been honestly and properly conveyed to humanity through prophethood, are understood. Finally the divine message may not be fully appreciated unless the embodiment of this divine message, or the Model of Guidance, and the Supreme Paradigm (imama or uswa) is properly recognized.

We can thus see how the concept of martyrdom in Islam is linked with the entire religion of Islam. This whole process can be somehow understood if the term 'Islam' is appreciated. This is because being a derivate of the Arabic root salama, which means 'surrender' and 'peace', Islam is a wholesome and peaceful submission to the will of Allah. [3] This means being prepared to die (martyrdom) in the course of this submission. Thus the concept of martyrdom, like all other Islamic concepts, can be fully and wholly appreciated only in the light of the Islamic doctrine of tawhid, or the absolute unity of Allah and full submission to His will and command. It cannot be fully appreciated in isolation.

In this sense, the concept of shahada is no exception. All Islamic concepts are interrelated, and should be appreciated within the framework of the doctrine of tawhid.[4]

The concept of shahada in Islam has been misunderstood by both Muslims and non-Muslims. As stated above, shahada is closely associated with the concept of jihad. Most non-Muslim scholars, intentionally or unintentionally, have defined jihad as only the Holy War, and thus have understood neither jihad nor shahada.[5] The Muslims, mostly taking into consideration the martyrs of the early days of Islamic history, define martyrdom in terms of the fatalistic death of those dear to Allah, and do not see the close link between continuous struggle in the cause of Allah ( jihad) and martyrdom.

[John Cincotta]

The Martyrdom of Man was a history of the world from an entirely new viewpoint, and was a prominent freethinking text of the late Nineteenth century. It is not an exaggeration to say that it provided a view of History as revolutionary as Darwin's view of Science - an entirely new and non-religious way of looking at the subject. It was very popular and influential on publication in the 1870's and long after - Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells and George Orwell were all heavily influenced.

Even Sherlock Holmes said "Let me recommend this book, -- one of the most remarkable ever penned. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man.'"

[Salim]

Pakistan is a better holiday destination than the Maldives.

[Daniyal Saeed]

I agree completely with the author of this article .. i live in Karachi Pakistan and i feel completley safe .. yes things happen mainly due to the war across te border and the influx of outsiders in our country.. did we have any suicide bombings before 911???? no none zero .thanks to american , british and yes AUSTRALIAN foriegn policies we are being deprived of sport .. england toured ,south africa toured india did as well .. the macho austrailans..(saviors on cricketing morals as they like to put it )are nothing but a bunch of little girls .. LONG LIVE PAKISTAN .. the PCB should sue them for a huge amont and break all crickiting ties with them

[Grant]

Who wants to die for their sport?

A Pakistani guy I work with in Oz said to me that for the first time in 10 years of returning home he felt in danger. He said that while in the past the trouble was mainly isolated to the north, now it was very much in the cities.

That said I think our current cricketers are a bunch of soft over paid nancy boys. I was living in London when the Tube bombs went off and the Australian cricketers were talking about going home.

Whatever happened to the ANZAC spirit of showing a bit of grit!!!

[bhutti]

At one level, one can agree with the view that the cricketers should have the right to refuse tours in places where their security may be imperiled.

However from practical experience, having served in Kashmir and India's troubled North East as a researcher and having been at the receiving end of suspicion from all quarters (army would suspect us to be overground extremists and militants and locals would see us as security agents), I do feel that the security scare is nothing but a humbug.

Most people in conflict regions get on with their lives without much danger and with minimum of precaution. The odds of getting caught in a bomb blast in Srinagar would be the same as the chances of being hurt in a car crash in New Delhi.

With our mass media, even the smallest of incidents are unreasonably magnified. Frankly, if one reads national newspapers in mainland India, one would get the impression that the only thing that happens in Kashmir is violence. And I suspect it is the same with what is happening in Pakistan now.

And as Dileep pointed, if some Pakistan had its own Sanford or Lalit Modi, people would have been rushing off to Lahore and Karachi as well. We would have heard statements about how a cricketer has to make a living and that one must get on life.

I think that Australian cricket establishment needs a serious introspection on their stance on tours in Pakistan just as they need to be consistent on their complaints of too much cricket and IPL.

[Liz]

The opposition leader in India hasn't just been assassinated, Dileep.

The australians with the proactive nature of their Govt would be a nice target.

Fact is England also is coming into the realms of being a place that teams can't tour due to terrorism.

From what I am lead to believe, the Ashes will only be played on Australian soil from now on because England has become a muslim state of Pakistan.

Still the Americans are kicking the Taliban butt so hopefully we can calm the region down in 20 years. Here is hoping.

[Ramesh]

Sports needs a normal environment to thrive in. Even in the best of times, Pakistan can be a difficult place to tour, and it could become stifling and claustrophobic, if you only had gun toting security guards hounding you all the time. How can sportsmen give off their best, if they cannot wind down normally? Have you played sport in Pakistan to understand that issue?

It is trite to say that you did not find anything abnormal during your stay there. It is because you could live like a normal person, move around like one and mingle with the crowd. Maybe you are also plain lucky that you were not at an explosion site. But your experience cannot be the baromter; try saying that to the families of hundreds who have died in the recent past at the hands of terrorists.

You also were not playing sport; only then you would have found how difficult it is for highly strung people [ as cricketers representing their nation are] to perform at their peak, if they cannot relax.

CLR James once said that normal sport cannot happen in an abnormal society. Why is Pakistan exempt?

Why don't you take umbrage at the FIH's decision to move the Champions Trophy? What was the logic behind that?

[Dileep]

South Africa have toured twice since the so-called war on terror started, and England once. Australia last toured Pakistan 10 years ago. Hypothetical question I know, but would Cricket Australia or any other board have the testicular fortitude to not tour India if there were security concerns? Somehow, I doubt it. Money talks...very loud in this case, with the IPL around the corner.

[Steve]

Yes Dileep, but they toured BEFORE the assasination of Benazir Bhutto. Australia have toured before as well, and no doubt will tour again at some time.

[Dileep]

Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen and Freddie Flintoff wouldn't stand out in a crowd in Islamabad? Fact is that England and South Africa have both toured, despite their players standing out like Rover's gonads.

[Steve]

Last I heard Dileep, the two boards were talking about swapping their respective tours. Instead of Australia touring Pakistan next, Pakistan would tour Australia and then the reverse would occur when next Pakistan were scheduled to tour Australia.

Has this idea been canned too?

You know if we're into the whole stereo-typing thing, then I would suggest that there might well be a difference in thinking if you thought that you were likely to be an attractive target for some religious jihadist rather than simply taking your chances along with all the other likely collatoral victims. What's that mean? Well if I was indistinguishable from the locals like in the London situation you described I'd probably be much less concerned than if I stood out like Rover's Gonads in the crowd at Islamabad.

Sport and politics are linked whether we like it or not. Ask the South Africans or the Israelis.

[Todd Shand]

Gun, Bomb - Dead!

[Dileep]

Your idea is attractive in theory, but I don't think it's really feasible. The best chance for Test cricket to revive in Pakistan is a marquee series against a team like Australia, especially if they happen to win a Test. If we start shifting games out of countries on account of empty stands, there would only be Test cricket in India, Australia and England.

[Tarun Y]

Hi Dileep,

On the subject of 'neutral' venues:

The last time Australia "toured" Pakistan, I believe they played in Sri Lanka and Sharjah ...
(why on earth Sri Lanka??!)

Surely, in monetary terms it mightn't be such a bad thing (thinking along the lines of the 39th Premier League game). If it were planned in a more sensible and 'business-like' manner.

I'm sure if Pakistan played Australia in three tests in say, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Headingley - they would be fairly to very full (due to the local demographics) and the money could be split three ways between Pakistan and Australian boards and some going to the local ones (eg, Lancashire cricket club).

Splitting thousands and thousands of pounds three-ways must be a better alternative to (virtually) empty stands for test cricket in pakistan?

Obviously, some logistics would have to come into play - ie, when England aren't playing on the same ground etc.

What do you think?
(Personally speaking - an India v Pakistan test in England would be awesome!! I went to Eden Gardens last year to watch the [boring] 4th and 5th days ... enjoyed the size and aura of it all, but lamented not being able to get a pint of guinness during the game!)