Events in the late 2000s and 2010s were not so fortunate for cricket in Pakistan as it was a no-go zone for international cricket teams for a decade after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. The ambush killed seven people and injured several Sri Lankan cricketers.
Since then Pakistan had to play their home games for around a decade in the UAE. The country also lost the joint hosting rights of the 2011 ODI World Cup in the wake of the attack. It was certain that the damage done would take time to mend.
After Zimbabwe’s breakthrough tour in 2017, international teams resumed touring Pakistan. In recent years, the tours have further gathered face, owing to the hard work of the Pakistan government, board officials, security forces, and many others.
Things took a turn for the best when South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe have toured Pakistan in the past two years without incident, while test skipper Tim Paine, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson, and George Bailey are among the Australians to have played Twenty20 games in the nation.
The tours of New Zealand and England had been keenly awaited and the whole nation awaited them wholeheartedly. Pakistani officials hoped that the visits would showcase Pakistan's positive image and the events as a testimony to the country’s improved security situation and diplomatic standing.
But Pakistan cricket has been dealt a cruel hand as New Zealand and England have called off their historic tours and further jeopardized the country’s hopes of hosting international cricket. The announcement of the Black Caps abandoning their cricket tour of Pakistan – just minutes away from the start of what would have been a historic series for Pakistan –sent the entire country into a frenzy. Its aftereffects will be felt for a long time, within and outside the country.
New Zealand, who had not toured the country which had been ravaged by terrorist attacks and the War on Terror, for 18 years, decided to abandon the tour before it even began. Simply being threatened by a security threat does not seem to be a sufficient reason. New Zealand Cricket said it received a security alert from its government and made the decision to cancel the tour moments before the scheduled start of the one-day international series in Rawalpindi.
“Following an escalation in the New Zealand government threat levels for Pakistan and advice from NZC security advisers on the ground, it has been decided the Black Caps will not continue with the tour,” NZC said on its website. “Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure.”
NZC declined to comment on the nature of the security threat. The Pakistan Cricket Board said Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke personally to New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern and informed her “we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team.”
“The Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand Cricket of the same.” For cricket-crazy Pakistan, this comes as a big setback as the country has not seen much international cricket on its soil in recent years.
For even a common observer, it was pretty evident that the team was given very secure accommodations and transportations. One that would exceed the one given to the head of state in the country.
Reacting to the decision by New Zealand Cricket Board, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar called the move 'very embarrassing' and said he can't take it. Blaming the Black Caps, Shoaib Akhtar said New Zealand 'killed Pakistan cricket'. However, netizens seem to disagree with his statement saying 'no, terrorism did'. PCB chairman Ramiz Raja was scathing, asking “which world is NZ living in,” vowing to take the matter up with the ICC.
Similarly, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cited the mental and physical well-being of their players as the reason behind their pull out despite making a commitment to the PCB that they will send their men’s and women’s teams to the country to reciprocate the goodwill gesture Pakistan had shown previously.
The announcement came just three days after the New Zealand tour’s abrupt abandonment, minutes before the opening match in Rawalpindi on Friday, following a “security alert” from his government. The newly appointed chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board lashed out at the “western bloc” whom he said “used and discarded” his country.
“It’s the feeling of being used and then abandoned, that’s the feeling I have now,” said the former Pakistan captain. “I certainly feel that we are dealing with a western mentality, a western bloc.” Raja pointed to Pakistani trips to New Zealand and England last year amid the COVID-19 situation and felt the withdrawals would have a ripple effect.
“The West Indies might be a bit nervous and we know that the Australians will probably do what the New Zealanders and England have done. So there goes our international national calendar.”
Australia is to visit Pakistan for a much-awaited cricket series, it's first in almost two decades, next year. But that series is also under a cloud. Paine's team is slated to tour Pakistan in February-March 2022, marking Australia's first visit since Mark Taylor's remarkable unbeaten 334 on a tour in 1998.
Cricket Australia has said it will “speak to the relevant authorities once more information is known” ahead of their tour scheduled for early next year. CA has made it clear throughout recent years that it supports international cricket returning to Pakistan, but expert safety advice will dictate its decision. The governing body is unlikely to rush to a decision.
The Pakistan Cricket Board will suffer huge financial losses in millions as a result of New Zealand and England abruptly calling off their tours. The PCB may not get an insurance claim of the losses incurred due to the situation under which the tour was called off.
A PCB official, close to the recent development, said the exact amount of loss due to New Zealand's decision is still being calculated. “I can't give you an exact figure at the moment as the details are being worked out," said the official. "What I can tell you is that we have lost all the money which was to come in terms of media rights, series sponsorship, and that we spent on series and security arrangements,” the PCB official told.
According to Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) suffered a loss of Rs 250 million due to the termination of the cricket series against New Zealand and England. Fawad also termed the abandonment a "conspiracy" by an "international lobby" against the country but added that such conspiracies will not succeed against Pakistan. The information minister, taking to Twitter, said Pakistan Television (PTV) suffered millions in losses after the cancellation and a final decision in this regard will be made after consulting the legal team.
A question arises from all this which begs to be answered. Is Pakistan being treated as the odd one out in the international cricket community? Will all the efforts it did in clearing up its name go in vain? What else will it take for the community to have faith in Pakistan? And is it the only reason why all this happened?