|
|
The ICC has sought to clarify remarks made by Haroon Lorgat, its chief
executive, which have been construed as casting doubts on the viability of
Pakistan as an international venue. Lorgat said the ICC would conduct an
independent security assessment of the country before appointing officials for
Sri Lanka's tour next month but ICC officials say the inspection was in the
pipeline and is not directly related to the tour.
"We will do an independent assessment of the situation in Pakistan to ensure the
safety of the umpires and match referee," Lorgat said in Mohali during the
second Test between India and England. "I am convinced the Sri Lankan board will
also do everything to ascertain whether it is safe to play in Pakistan and also
seek assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board."
The Pakistan board was caught off-guard by the comments, which suggested that
ICC security assessments would precede even bilateral contests in Pakistan. This
would be a break from past practice; for instance this year, when Australia
pulled out of a tour to Pakistan over security concerns, the ICC hadn't spoken
of an independent security assessment for its own officials. When England
returned to India after the Mumbai attacks, the BCCI's security arrangements
satisfied Reg Dickason, the security consultant for the ECB, and also the ICC.
Lorgat, it is learned, later called Zakir Khan, PCB director cricket operations,
and explained that the comments had been taken out of context and that there had
been nothing alarming about what he had said. "We received a call from Lorgat
and he explained what he had meant by his comments," an official "He explained
that there was nothing alarmist in what he said and we are satisfied with that.
As far as we are concerned it is a non-issue."
ICC officials later released a statement clarifying precisely what Lorgat's
remarks conveyed; in it they explained that such an assessment had been planned
in any case, as part of an ongoing assessment towards the ICC Champions Trophy,
scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2009.
"Security would have to be assessed on an ongoing basis anyway as we move
towards the ICC Champions Trophy. We would have done that during the
Pakistan-India tour had it taken place," the statement read, referring to
India's withdrawal from the tour after the Indian government refused permission
for the team to visit Pakistan. After the Champions Trophy was postponed in
September 2008, the ICC had said that a security review would take place after
India's tour to Pakistan, which would then form the basis of further assessment
before the 2009 tournament was confirmed.
But the ICC also reiterated Lorgat's stance, that safety issues for officials
and spectators were as important as those for the players. "The issue is that
safety and security is not simply a matter for players; it's also a matter for
everyone else - broadcasters, journalists and match officials too, as well as
spectators. From the ICC's perspective, what would be required is that the match
officials are afforded the same level of security as any or everyone else
involved in the series."
The statement also raised the issue of umpires willing to tour. "Just like with
players, officials have choices about whether or not they wish to attend a tour
and are also likely to be guided by the views of their own governments.
[However] the ICC has a significant number of officials and would certainly
expect to be able to identify enough of them to stand in the tour."
Sri Lanka agreed to tour Pakistan after India's withdrawal for what will now be
a series of three Tests and five ODIs. |
|
|
