'Osama is not looking for West Indian cricketers'

Faisal Shariff

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Lt General Tauqir Zia is a worried man. Worried, and angry.

The Pakistan team has, thanks to unsettled conditions in the sub-continent, not played any competitive cricket of note since June 2001 -- a fact that hurts both the team, and its treasury.

New Zealand pulled out of a scheduled tour in September, and Sri Lanka subsequently cancelled a scheduled one day series -- two cancellations that have cost the Pakistan board losses, estimated well in excess of $10 million by way of in-stadia advertising, gate receipts and television revenues.

The West Indies was scheduled to send a team over this month -- but again, pulled out at the last minute, citing security concerns. Instead they preferred playing Pakistan at Sharjah, where the first Test commenced today.

"My biggest problem is that not much cricket is being played at a time when it is very important for my team to get lots of games, as preparation for the World Cup to be held in South Africa next year," says a worried Zia. "My players are starving for some international cricket."

Following the Windies board's request, Zia managed to persuade Sharjah -- hitherto a one-day venue -- to host the Test series between Pakistan and Windies.

"I might break even, or even lose money in Sharjah," Zia said in a telephonic conversation from Rawalpindi. "No board in the world can afford three cancelled tours. I have taken up the matter with the International Cricket Council, and we have spoken to ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, who is sympathetic to our plight."

The fact that international teams have been using security concerns as the reason angers the Pakistan cricket chief no end. "If England can travel to India despite the tensions between India and Pakistan, why can't the West Indies team play in Pakistan?" Zia demands.

The West Indies board, in a letter, expressed concern not only about the tension along the India-Pakistan border, but also relating to the war in Afghanistan and the fact that Osama bin Laden hadn't been caught yet.

"I would like to tell the West Indies board one thing," says an obviously miffed Zia, "Osama is not looking for West Indian cricketers. He has more important things to worry about. I just don't understand why the West Indies board is making these excuses."

Zia says that Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had assured him that there was no problem with the series going on, if the West Indies had chosen not to cancel.

"General Saab told me that Pakistan is safe, there would be no problems. Finally, he has left the decision to me and has asked to me to see to it that the boys don't suffer."

With the West Indies series now shifted to Sharjah, Pakistan's cricketers have got a chance to finally play -- but, points out Zia, this will bring fresh problems in its wake. The shifting of a tour to a neutral venue will, he fears, set a precedent, and more and more countries scheduled to tour Pakistan in the future will ask for a similar change in venue.

"I am going to take the issue up with the ICC, and they better do something about it," Zia says. "I think that the ICC is not an impotent body anymore, and will sort out these problems once and for all."

Zia says that though Pakistan cricket has earned very little these last twelve months, money for developmental programmes is not an issue. Yet.

"My developmental plans are on; I have got the grounds and pitches in order all over the country. I am not spending the amount of money I would have liked to, but the money has been catered for. We will sort things out once the tension in the region recedes," Zia avers.

The Pakistan cricket chief emphasized the need for India to play Pakistan, and said his team is ready to meet India at any venue in the world.

"Even at the peak of tensions between the two countries, I am ready to send my team to India to play if required. War has nothing to do with cricket. If India hosts the ICC knock-out trophy, I will send my boys there."

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