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PCB slams FICA for terming Pakistan unsafe

[caption id="attachment_33741" align="aligncenter" width="580"] 'Security threat to foreign cricketers in Pakistan excessive, unmanageable' , says Tony Irish. Image Source: twitter[/caption] Internet Desk: Head of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations Tony Irish described the security threat to foreign players and teams in Pakistan as “excessive and unmanageable”. Irish's comments come in light of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) extending an invitation to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to tour the country for two Twenty20 Internationals in March at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, reports CMC. "The Pakistani players don't have a players association so aren't affiliated to FICA," Irish told the media on Monday. "Players from around the world affiliated to FICA do, however, and seek advice from FICA relating to security risks of playing in various countries. "We rely on reports from our independent security consultants. In the past, the consistent advice from the security experts has been that risks to foreign players and teams of playing in Pakistan are excessive and unmanageable," he added. International matches in Pakistan haven't been held in the last seven years, following an attack on a bus transporting the Sri Lanka team to a match that saw six players injured and the same number of police officers killed. Two years ago, however, Zimbabwe became the only full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to visit Pakistan for a brief limited-overs series - and that trip too, was marred by a suicide bomb blast outside the Gadaffi Stadium during the final match. The PCB, however, is eager to revive international matches in the country, and a security delegation from the WICB is expected to visit the country later this month, as well as Giles Clarke, who heads the ICC's special task force on Pakistan cricket, to assess the situation on the ground. Clarke's visit is significant, as it follows a PCB proposal to the ICC Executive Board asking the governing body to compensate them for international teams not touring Pakistan. Irish said FICA continues to make its own security assessments to keep players around the world informed of the situation. "We are in the process of obtaining an updated report from the security consultants and will provide recommendations to players as soon as we have received this," he said. "Players play in T20 leagues as individuals and, therefore, each player makes an individual decision on whether or not to play in this match in Lahore. FICA's role in these circumstances is to provide players with information and recommendations which may assist them in making that decision." FICA has done great disservice to the cause of cricket in general and Pakistan cricket in particular by advising players not to play in the PSL Final in Lahore next March because of “security reasons”. FICA has cited unnamed “expert Security Consultants” for “updated security advice” that claims Pakistan is “at an extremely elevated state of insecurity.” This is a careless and cavalier approach to an issue of great importance. FICA sits thousands of miles away from Pakistan and cannot name even one credible security expert, yet makes a sweeping negative statement about the security situation in Lahore. FICA’s claim that “westerners and luxury hotels have been attacked” is contrary to the facts on the ground that prove that not a single foreigner or hotel has been attacked in Lahore in the last five years. FICA’s claim that “targeted attacks” are predicted to continue is belied by the fact that Lahore is the show piece of the government that has secured the services of UK based “safe city”  security project. PCB has recently hosted Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh (Women), Afghanistan and Malaysian national cricket teams in Lahore and Karachi without any problem. In the case of PSL Final in Lahore for one day, the government has guaranteed protection by over 3000 army and police personnel in Lahore. PCB will provide armored buses for travel along with VVIP security protocols. It may also be noted that a group of foreign players including Jonty Rhodes, Brain Lara, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath, Dean Jones, Mark Butcher, Marvin Atapatu, Herschelle Gibbs, Damien Martyn, Andy Roberts, Danny Morrison, Sanath Jayasuriya, Andrew Symonds, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Smith, Cameron Delport etc are regular visitors to Pakistan on assignment with Pak TV and are available to vouchsafe the safety and security of foreign cricketers in the country. PSL has already received confirmation from top international players to play in Lahore and PCB is determined to bring cricket home to Pakistan.