Weakened teams pose new threat to Champions Trophy
Friday, 25 July 2008
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September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan is set to take place with half of the eight invited teams fielding, at best, under-strength sides. There is even the possibility that a number of the countries may not be able to get a team together, so worried are they about safety and security in Pakistan.
At a special meeting yesterday the International Cricket Council, the game's governing body, discussed the possibility of the tournament being moved to Sri Lanka or South Africa because of security fears raised by Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa, but in the end decided for it to remain in Pakistan.
In the past the England and Wales Cricket Board have encouraged their players to travel to potentially volatile countries to compete in tournaments. But on this occasion the ECB will not do anything to influence the participation of a player; instead, they will allow him to make his own decision with their blessing. By declining the chance to play in the Champions Trophy a player will not jeopardise his chances of being selected for Sir Allen Stanford's $20m match in Antigua on 1 November, unless, of course, an individual who chooses to tour comes in and makes himself irreplaceable.
The ECB's policy means that it is not only the one-day team's star performers such as Kevin Pietersen who may choose to withdraw – lesser known players further down the line may well make the same decision. Ultimately, if every contracted player in England was to take such an outlook, the ECB, who believe the tournament should be moved to either Sri Lanka or South Africa, would not be able to get a team together.
The ECB will take a stance on their position following an executive board meeting early next month. In response to the ICC's decision an ECB spokesperson said: "The England and Wales Cricket Board will hold extensive and urgent discussions with various key stakeholders, including the players and the England team management, to establish a position going forward, and after those discussions have taken place the ECB will take a decision that is appropriate."
Several foreign teams have refused to tour Pakistan since the 11 September attacks on America in 2001, and Australia and New Zealand are set to adopt a similar policy to that of England. A leading Australian player, Andrew Symonds, has already stated his reservations about going and those New Zealand players who were in Pakistan in May 2002, when a bomb blast killed 19 people in front of their Karachi hotel, will not be keen to revisit an area where bombs continue to go off.
The structure of the ICC, which requires a minimum 7-3 vote among its 10 full members for a proposal to go through, does not help it with its decision making. It means the views of a significant proportion of its members can easily be overruled. The four Asian countries do not share the same concerns about travelling to Pakistan – indeed India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all just competed in the Asia Cup, which was played there. This group can rely on the support of the West Indies and Zimbabwe, too.
The fact that four Asian countries will jointly host the 2011 World Cup has raised the stakes. The last thing these countries would want is to set a precedent like this which would be a huge blow to the region.
Last Sunday ICC delegates were briefed over the security arrangements made during the Asia Cup, which passed without incident between 24 June and 6 July, but it has not convinced Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, that the tournament should be hosted by Pakistan.
"Based on expert reports read and heard during Sunday's meeting there is no way the ACA can recommend touring Pakistan at this time," Marsh said.
