October 03 Thursday 2002
Pakistan justifies refusal to play at neutral venues

LONDON: Pakistan justified their refusal to switch further home test series to neutral soil on Wednesday, arguing reluctant visiting teams should realise they would be treated like "heads of state" rather than ordinary tourists. 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Chishty Mujahid said that the country had had enough of playing abroad and felt it was being unfairly singled out because of their opponents' security fears. 

"It can't go on like this," he said. 

"Bombings can happen anywhere, in any country, in Calcutta or London. "But cricket teams, particularly in this part of the world, are treated like heads of state or prime ministers. They get the same security. It's not like you or me." 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Pakistan's tougher stance on Tuesday. West Indies and Australia have refused to tour the country following security worries after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington last year. 

New Zealand cut short a visit earlier this year after a bombing near their hotel in Karachi. Pakistan agreed to shift the West Indies series to Sharjah and a one-day series to Kenya. They will take on Australia in Colombo (one test) and Sharjah (two tests) in the coming weeks. 

Mujahid said the bomb blast during the New Zealand tour had been "unfortunate" but stressed it had not been aimed at the players, adding that there had also been similar incidents during cricket tours to other countries. 

"Pakistan should not be singled out," he said, adding that security assurances had been offered by "the highest authority in the country". Visiting teams, though, had preferred the advice of their own embassies or foreign ministries. 

"We were very keen to play Australia at home, firstly for the sake of our passionate supporters and secondly because of the financial and sponsorship problems it causes the board if we have to move the series," he said. 

"We took a soft view this time. But we don't want people to make this a habit." Mujahid conceded Pakistan might have to work harder to convince opponents and their boards that they would be looked after. They might take note, he added, that Pakistan have an Australian fitness trainer while newly-installed coach Richard Pybus is a South Africa-based Englishman. 

"The ICC are also holding a development committee meeting in Lahore this month," he added. "The ICC are considering our case and have been very sympathetic." 

The PCB, though, has time on its side before acting on its tougher stance. 

While India are due to visit early next year -- a trip which is itself under threat due to tensions between the two countries -- South Africa are not due until next October, England do not visit until 2005 and Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to return only in 2008.