Attack on cricket in Pak; was Australia aware?
Ajmer Alam
March 04, 2009
Attack on cricket in Pak; was Australia aware?
Earlier, the Australia cancelled the cricket tours to Pakistan and following the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, Cricket Australia Chief executive James Sutherland said on Wednesday that Australia would be ready to host matches in the 2011 World Cup.
One fails to understand why Australia cancelled the tour earlier, and later, just a day after coming out with a statement about hosting the event. The motive behind the attack which however wounded the Sri Lankan players seems was not aimed at killing any player but to draw the international attention about the security risk of players in the sub-continent.
The outcome of the attack on cricket is clear. Both India and Pakistan as well as other Asian cricket loving countries are in loss as the International Cricket Council (ICC) cast doubt on Tuesday on Pakistan’s hopes of remaining a co-host of the four-yearly event, saying the Lahore attacks had changed the global landscape of the game. New Zealand is also standby hosts for the 2011 World Cup.
On the other hand benefits (economical and promotional) would go to both Australia and other European countries. We should not rule out the possibility to some third power (it could be underworld also which may have developed some network in the European countries to continue their ‘cricket betting) behind the attack which wants to draw the economic benefit from the World Cup 2011 by changing its avenue in South Asia.
The ICC’s Board will discuss the fallout from the Lahore ambush which killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan cricketers wounded and the consequences for the World Cup at a meeting in Dubai next month.
However, the yesterdays attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Pakistan has raised serious questions about the security and safety of players in Pakistan.
The country, which is said to be under the grip of Islamic extremists like Al-Queda, has defamed its image attacking and injuring half a dozen cricket players of Sri Lanka, which is also experiencing terrorism for the last few years.
The players are the guests, goodwill ambassadors and bridge of friendship between nations and they have nothing to do with the politics.
The cowardly act of attacking players does not seem to fulfill any demands or image of the attackers.
This only defamed the image of the country-Pakistan, which is moving in democratic path after a series of army rule.
Have the attackers achieved their goal? What was their intention? This is not clear but what is clear is that they have not achieved their goal and certainly will not.
Sri Lanka, a country guided by the philosophy of Buddhism, always discards extremism and they are the victims of extremists either in Pakistan or in home.
It has been a matter of great concern and one must ask how up to 14 heavily armed and well-trained assailants sprayed the Sri Lankan bus with bullets and fired a rocket and a grenade as it travelled to a match against Pakistan in the eastern city of Lahore yesterday, where match was to be played, how they travelled so freely so near to the match venue where security cover was supposed to be tight.
The militants’ ambush bore many similarities to last year's three-day hostage drama in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai. Working in pairs, the attackers in Lahore carried walkie-talkies and backpacks stuffed with water, dried fruit and other high-energy food - a sign they anticipated a protracted siege and might have been planning to take the players hostage.
None of the gunmen was killed and all apparently escaped into the teeming city after a 15-minute gun battle with the convoy's security detail.
Besides the six police officers, a driver of a vehicle in the convoy was also killed. Seven Sri Lankan players, a Pakistani umpire and the team's British Assistant Coach, Paul Farbace, were wounded.
The bus was peppered with 25 bullet holes in the attack, among the highest-profile terrorist strikes on a sports team since the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Palestinian militants killed 11 Israeli athletes.
By targeting a much-loved sport in Pakistan and elsewhere in South Asia, the gunmen were certain to draw international attention to the government's inability to provide basic security as it battles against militants linked to Al Qaida and the Taliban and faces accusations that it is harbouring terrorists.
The attack ended Pakistan's hopes of hosting international cricket teams or any high profile sports events for months, if not years.
Even before yesterday, most cricket squads chose not to tour the country for security reasons. India and Australia cancelled tours and New Zealand announced it was calling off its December tour.
The International Cricket Council said it would review Pakistan's status as co-host of the 2011 World Cup. Pakistan has a web of Islamist militant networks, some with links to Al Qaida and the Taliban, which have staged other high-profile strikes to destabilize the government and punish it for its support of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Australia cancelled the cricket tours to Pakistan and following the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, Cricket Australia Chief executive James Sutherland said on Wednesday that Australia would be ready to host matches in the 2011 World Cup.
One fails to understand why Australia cancelled the tour earlier, and later, just a day after coming out with a statement about hosting the event. The motive behind the attack which however wounded the Sri Lankan players seems was not aimed at killing any player but to draw the international attention about the security risk of players in the sub-continent.
The outcome of the attack on cricket is clear. Both India and Pakistan as well as other Asian cricket loving countries are in loss as the International Cricket Council (ICC) cast doubt on Tuesday on Pakistan’s hopes of remaining a co-host of the four-yearly event, saying the Lahore attacks had changed the global landscape of the game. New Zealand is also standby hosts for the 2011 World Cup.
On the other hand benefits (economical and promotional) would go to both Australia and other European countries. We should not rule out the possibility to some third power (it could be underworld also which may have developed some network in the European countries to continue their ‘cricket betting) behind the attack which wants to draw the economic benefit from the World Cup 2011 by changing its avenue in South Asia.
The ICC’s Board will discuss the fallout from the Lahore ambush which killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan cricketers wounded and the consequences for the World Cup at a meeting in Dubai next month.
However, the yesterdays attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Pakistan has raised serious questions about the security and safety of players in Pakistan.
The country, which is said to be under the grip of Islamic extremists like Al-Queda, has defamed its image attacking and injuring half a dozen cricket players of Sri Lanka, which is also experiencing terrorism for the last few years.
The players are the guests, goodwill ambassadors and bridge of friendship between nations and they have nothing to do with the politics.
The cowardly act of attacking players does not seem to fulfill any demands or image of the attackers.
This only defamed the image of the country-Pakistan, which is moving in democratic path after a series of army rule.
Have the attackers achieved their goal? What was their intention? This is not clear but what is clear is that they have not achieved their goal and certainly will not.
Sri Lanka, a country guided by the philosophy of Buddhism, always discards extremism and they are the victims of extremists either in Pakistan or in home.
It has been a matter of great concern and one must ask how up to 14 heavily armed and well-trained assailants sprayed the Sri Lankan bus with bullets and fired a rocket and a grenade as it travelled to a match against Pakistan in the eastern city of Lahore yesterday, where match was to be played, how they travelled so freely so near to the match venue where security cover was supposed to be tight.
The militants’ ambush bore many similarities to last year's three-day hostage drama in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai. Working in pairs, the attackers in Lahore carried walkie-talkies and backpacks stuffed with water, dried fruit and other high-energy food - a sign they anticipated a protracted siege and might have been planning to take the players hostage.
None of the gunmen was killed and all apparently escaped into the teeming city after a 15-minute gun battle with the convoy's security detail.
Besides the six police officers, a driver of a vehicle in the convoy was also killed. Seven Sri Lankan players, a Pakistani umpire and the team's British Assistant Coach, Paul Farbace, were wounded.
The bus was peppered with 25 bullet holes in the attack, among the highest-profile terrorist strikes on a sports team since the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Palestinian militants killed 11 Israeli athletes.
By targeting a much-loved sport in Pakistan and elsewhere in South Asia, the gunmen were certain to draw international attention to the government's inability to provide basic security as it battles against militants linked to Al Qaida and the Taliban and faces accusations that it is harbouring terrorists.
The attack ended Pakistan's hopes of hosting international cricket teams or any high profile sports events for months, if not years.
Even before yesterday, most cricket squads chose not to tour the country for security reasons. India and Australia cancelled tours and New Zealand announced it was calling off its December tour.
The International Cricket Council said it would review Pakistan's status as co-host of the 2011 World Cup. Pakistan has a web of Islamist militant networks, some with links to Al Qaida and the Taliban, which have staged other high-profile strikes to destabilize the government and punish it for its support of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
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