Nick Bendel
Will Australia be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy?
July 25th 2008 12:06
While the boards of Australia, England and New Zealand, as well as the players’ association of South Africa, expressed reluctance about playing in the strife-torn nation, they lacked the numbers to overrule the Asian bloc (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), which received predictable support from Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Cricket South Africa.
Superficially, the news is pleasing. Cricket is an engagingly multicultural sport, but one played at a serious level by only a small number of countries, so it is important that the member nations show solidarity with one another. Otherwise, there is the risk of division along racial lines, which is something that a sport of such limited appeal can scarcely afford. Now that it is Pakistan’s turn to host an important event, the other nine test-playing countries should do everything in their power to ensure that it does, indeed, go ahead, and successfully at that. The payback then comes when it is their turn to host an important event.
Having suffered the indignity of the Australians withdrawing from a tour to their country earlier in the year, the Pakistanis did not deserve to be deprived on an even higher profile tournament just a few months later. Certainly, that was how their captain viewed things. “It would have been a great loss for Pakistan cricket had the Champions Trophy been taken away from here,” Shoaib Malik responded to the news. “I’m thankful to the cricket world for taking a decision that is great for the sport in this country.”
The problem, though, is that this is not a moral issue, but a security issue. While the Pakistan Cricket Board might be morally entitled to host the Champions Trophy, and while cricket supporters around the world might wish them all the best, righteousness and sympathy do not prevent bombs going off. The many people to have perished in the many terrorist attacks to have occurred in Pakistan this year did not die because they were not worthy enough; they died because they were not secure enough. So when Malik and others speak of Pakistan’s moral claim to the Champions Trophy, they miss the point.
If media reports are to be believed, the recent security appraisal that was jointly conducted by the boards of Australia, England and New Zealand concluded that Pakistan was not sufficiently safe to receive their teams. Assuming that those reports were correct, it would be unjust- and possibly illegal- for Cricket Australia to ask its players to take part in the Champions Trophy. While not disputing that the PCB deserves its moment of glory, CA has no right to place its employees in a hazardous working environment. The Pakistanis have a moral entitlement to host the tournament; but the Australians have a moral entitlement to safety. Both parties are in the right.
Although the stances adopted by the two countries seem irreconcilable, a logical compromise is available. The PCB can continue to champion its security, while quietly letting it be known that it would understand if any cricketer chose to skip the tournament. And CA can continue to demur, while leaving the door open to any player who may wish to take part. If CA advises its players to stay away from Pakistan, it would seem to be ethically and legally absolved of responsibility should any of them ignore the advice and subsequently get hurt.
That would mean sending an understrength squad overseas. Normally, that is not permitted under international regulations, but the ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, has already given his consent. Provided the Pakistanis also agree, they would be able to stage the tournament as planned. While it would be devalued by the fact that not all of the eight teams would have all of their stars, at least all of the teams would be there. Such is the nature of compromise; you don’t get everything you wanted, but you get more than you would’ve had a deal not been done.
How depleted would an Australian team be? Again, one can only rely on media reports, but it seems as if it would be severely depleted. Although Shane Watson has expressed his willingness to tour, and although Matthew Hayden has openly considered the idea, many of the stars, such as the strident Andrew Symonds, are said to be against it. Another to have come out in favour of going to Pakistan is Nathan Hauritz- and it could be that any Australian eleven is largely filled with fringe players like that.
Whatever ends up happening, it seems unlikely that this unpleasant saga could possibly have a happy ending. Through no fault of its own, the entire cricketing community- boards, players and fans- has been placed in a regrettable position. Sadly, it looks like the winners of the 2008 Champions Trophy are going to be the terrorists.
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