Omar Malik
30th September 2008, 20:35
Not conducive for teams to travel to Pak: Rashid Latif
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Karachi: Pakistan's Rashid Latif and Younus Khan believe the cricket authorities needed to prepare a contingency plan to deal with the reality of teams not wanting to tour the country because of the existing uncertain security situation.
Latif, who appeared in 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals, said the existing security situation would not encourage any team to tour Pakistan.
"It is a reality we have to face and I think the conditions are such it is better teams don't come now. Even if the IPL and ICL decide to send teams can anyone really guarantee anything. Because as a nation we are dealing with suicide bombers who can do anything," Latif said on Tuesday.
Latif, who plays for the Lashings cricket club, said his club was ready to send a team to Pakistan but he himself was not in favour in the existing security conditions.
"What I think the board must do is have a contingency plan in place like sending our 'A' teams to play regularly in Australia, South Africa or England so that our back up players are ready all the time.
"We can continue with our domestic cricket and give the best performers exposure through the A teams so that we never fall short of talent and when things normalise we can go back to playing regular cricket," Latif said.
He said foreign teams would change their view on touring the strife-torn country if the Indian Cricket Board and the ICC convinces them to travel to here.
"The Indian board is influential and powerful and if they support having international cricket in Pakistan things will change," said Latif.
Younus said he would support any idea including having private leagues like the Indian Premier League or the Indian Cricket League sending their teams to Pakistan to play matches as long as there was some international cricket played in the country.
"I don't mind if they have IPL or ICL teams coming here or even if we have just foreign players in our Pakistan Premier League soon but it is necessary to have contingency plan because cricket is very important for Pakistan as a nation," Younus said.
"I know for a fact that Pakistan had been good in cricket, hockey and squash and now we are doing well only in cricket. The sport has also served as a unifying force for our people. If there is no international cricket in the country I fear for the future of cricket in Pakistan," he said.
Younus said cricket was very important for Pakistan as a nation as people followed it passionately.
"The ICC and member boards must realise that cricket is not just a sport for Pakistan it is much more than that and if international teams don't come to Pakistan it would hurt us badly. Our board also needs to have a contingency plan in place to deal with the current situation," Younus added.
The batsman who has captained Pakistan and hails from the tribal area of Mardan hoped that the security situation would improve in the country as the people of Pakistan wanted to lead a normal and peaceful life.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Karachi: Pakistan's Rashid Latif and Younus Khan believe the cricket authorities needed to prepare a contingency plan to deal with the reality of teams not wanting to tour the country because of the existing uncertain security situation.
Latif, who appeared in 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals, said the existing security situation would not encourage any team to tour Pakistan.
"It is a reality we have to face and I think the conditions are such it is better teams don't come now. Even if the IPL and ICL decide to send teams can anyone really guarantee anything. Because as a nation we are dealing with suicide bombers who can do anything," Latif said on Tuesday.
Latif, who plays for the Lashings cricket club, said his club was ready to send a team to Pakistan but he himself was not in favour in the existing security conditions.
"What I think the board must do is have a contingency plan in place like sending our 'A' teams to play regularly in Australia, South Africa or England so that our back up players are ready all the time.
"We can continue with our domestic cricket and give the best performers exposure through the A teams so that we never fall short of talent and when things normalise we can go back to playing regular cricket," Latif said.
He said foreign teams would change their view on touring the strife-torn country if the Indian Cricket Board and the ICC convinces them to travel to here.
"The Indian board is influential and powerful and if they support having international cricket in Pakistan things will change," said Latif.
Younus said he would support any idea including having private leagues like the Indian Premier League or the Indian Cricket League sending their teams to Pakistan to play matches as long as there was some international cricket played in the country.
"I don't mind if they have IPL or ICL teams coming here or even if we have just foreign players in our Pakistan Premier League soon but it is necessary to have contingency plan because cricket is very important for Pakistan as a nation," Younus said.
"I know for a fact that Pakistan had been good in cricket, hockey and squash and now we are doing well only in cricket. The sport has also served as a unifying force for our people. If there is no international cricket in the country I fear for the future of cricket in Pakistan," he said.
Younus said cricket was very important for Pakistan as a nation as people followed it passionately.
"The ICC and member boards must realise that cricket is not just a sport for Pakistan it is much more than that and if international teams don't come to Pakistan it would hurt us badly. Our board also needs to have a contingency plan in place to deal with the current situation," Younus added.
The batsman who has captained Pakistan and hails from the tribal area of Mardan hoped that the security situation would improve in the country as the people of Pakistan wanted to lead a normal and peaceful life.