Not a good news for Karachi cricket fans -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan switch game from Karachi
Pakistan’s fifth one-day international against South Africa on Monday has been moved from Karachi to Lahore because of security concerns.
The South Africans did not want to play in Karachi after last week’s bombing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s convoy in which 139 people were killed.
South Africa also requested not to play in the volatile city on their last tour of Pakistan in 2003.
Pakistan lead 2-1 in the series, which continues in Multan on Friday.
there goes any chances of Aus playing in Khi ....... Karachi people are again deprived off !! BOMB BLAST IN BB'S "JALOOS" WAS A TARGETED INCIDENT AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EVERYDAY'S SECURITY SITUATION IN PAKISTAN.
Let me admit today that Indian team was considerate enough to play game in Karachi ..... I can understand that SA players are not willing to visit Karachi for a day (although they stayed for 10 days there while playing warm-up and test) but PCB should call off the ODI rather than shifting the game. ITs the "shifting" policy of PCB that has allowed these teams to exaturate the threat
there goes any chances of Aus playing in Khi ....... Karachi people are again deprived off !! Let me admit today that Indian team was considerate enough to play game in Karachi ..... I can understand that SA players are not willing to visit Karachi for a day (although they stayed for 10 days there while playing warm-up and test) but PCB should call off the ODI rather than shifting the game. ITs the "shifting" policy of PCB that has allowed these teams to exaturate the threat
India actually played quite a few games in Karachi including a test match between 2004-2006, so hats off to them.
I can understand South Africans reservations over playing @ karachi in the current political situation, however after given highest security assurance they could have considered playing over there. After all Auusies played an ODI against England right after 7/7 or was it on 7/7?
Anyway can't blame South Africans, they were entitled to take that decision. Atleast they tried to make an attempt by sending their security team to review the situation before making their decision. It is a sorry tale for karachites that they won't be able to watch the game @ NSK next Monday. NSK was finally getting some international matches, hopefully this cancellation won't affect future games.
I think we all understand and appreciate that ordinary Karachiites (or Karachi wallahs) have nothing to do with terrorism (and are least interesting in scaring visiting cricket teams). However, the fact is that a terrorist just killed 130+ people in one bomb blast a few days ago. Political subtilites aside, one point that is blantantly obvious is that when you have a huge crowd of people (be it BB rally or a jam-packed cricket game) providing 100% security guarantee is IMPOSSIBLE. All you need is one sufficiently deranged person to make a point in National Stadium Karachi, and the whole country goes into further crisis.
I am from Lahore, and while I'd hate for Lahoris to miss out a great game, but if such a blantant terrorist attack had just taken place there, my own comfort level about any kind of security guarantees will be non-existent. Thing is Pakistan is going through a huge issue with violent clashes between people of diverse ideologies. No one wants to be caught in this cross-fire. 130+ innocent people have died a few days ago, just being in that rally. Unless we control the bigger issue, just lamblasting visiting teams is not going to help.
I demand Sind capital should be shifted from Karachi to some smaller town. And all the political activities should be moved to that political leader's native town (ie Larkana in BB's case).
I think we all understand and appreciate that ordinary Karachiites (or Karachi wallahs) have nothing to do with terrorism (and are least interesting in scaring visiting cricket teams). However, the fact is that a terrorist just killed 130+ people in one bomb blast a few days ago. Political subtilites aside, one point that is blantantly obvious is that when you have a huge crowd of people (be it BB rally or a jam-packed cricket game) providing 100% security guarantee is IMPOSSIBLE. All you need is one sufficiently deranged person to make a point in National Stadium Karachi, and the whole country goes into further crisis.
I am from Lahore, and while I'd hate for Lahoris to miss out a great game, but if such a blantant terrorist attack had just taken place there, my own comfort level about any kind of security guarantees will be non-existent. Thing is Pakistan is going through a huge issue with violent clashes between people of diverse ideologies. No one wants to be caught in this cross-fire. 130+ innocent people have died a few days ago, just being in that rally. Unless we control the bigger issue, just lamblasting visiting teams is not going to help.
Officials should have said that Muslims were behind these attacks and Karachities are freedom loving people. If there is no ODI than terrorists have won.
I can understand where they are coming from. Karachi is one dangerous city in Pakistan. Unfortunately every time a teams comes to visit Pakistan there is a bomb blast in either Karachi or Peshawar. PCB can't do mush about that.
Let's not blame the Saffies. They did play a warm up and a Test match in Karachi earlier this month. it was the bomb blast that made them change the plan.
