Presidential level security doesnt give a positive signal!

[Titan24]

Presidential level security? PCB has been giving it to number of teams and number of players for PSL however, the first thought that must be coming into minds of the players is that situation in Pak isnt normal and that is why we are being given such level of security which is clearly not the case. Also the players who have already come and witnessed that security, while they are really safe but really confined to pretty much hotel and stadium and thus cant say much about how safe country is to other players of their country or even other countries. I could have been able to understand extra care and apprehensions in first few matches and series but now its almost 5th or 6th event (Including PSL) happening in Pakistan. What exact purpose this presidential level security is serving?

PCB should avoid saying things like presidential level security etc as it doesnt represent normalcy which is what should be the aim to let the world know things are normal. Security just like any other country should be appointed and the players should be allowed to move and enjoy different activities with reasonable security.

In addition presidential level security and players confined to their hotel rooms is not the long term solution and earlier PCB understands that, earlier they able to manage that successfully, the sooner we will see full cricket back in Pak.

Incident in 2009 was an anomaly by any standard as there was not even a single gunman with the Srl team at that time which was unusual and unprofessional and happened due to number of political things happening at that time. Just normal security just like any other Asian countries provide is good enough, going overboard due to fear of that one incident doesnt give a good signal in my opinion.

Furthermore ICC needs to come into this issue as well, there has been firing in NZ mosque where BD team just escaped, blasts in few big hotels in Srl, Pakistan has been much safer in the mean time then few of the countries hosting international cricket.

PCB needs to start taking these series normally as well for the cricketing world to feel the same.

 

[Savak]

Presidential level security is demanded by the ICC. Also considering what happened in 2009, we cannot take security for granted. What the PCB needs to do and keep on doing is to keep successfully hosting games, the entire psl, as many bilateral games in Pakistan as possible and get a final all clear from the ICC.

Once the ICC gives this all clear, any member state who refuses to tour Pakistan for unjustified reasons in defiance of the ICC assessment should be fined and be suspended and the PCB should start demanding visiting teams to pay up for the expenses of playing in the UAE.

 

[Titan24]

Presidential level security is demanded by the ICC. Also considering what happened in 2009, we cannot take security for granted. What the PCB needs to do and keep on doing is to keep successfully hosting games, the entire psl, as many bilateral games in Pakistan as possible and get a final all clear from the ICC.

Once the ICC gives this all clear, any member state who refuses to tour Pakistan for unjustified reasons in defiance of the ICC assessment should be fined and be suspended and the PCB should start demanding visiting teams to pay up for the expenses of playing in the UAE.

If presidential level security is required by ICC then I hope they soon give all clear and they have some sort of progress monitoring with this regard to tell PCB how much is enough before being all clear and they can start contributing and playing a role in teams touring to Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Damned if you do and damned if you don't!

Just a no win situation here.

Maybe the choice of words is wrong.

No need to say archaic things like fool-proof or presidential.

Simply say adequate security arrangements and show those protocols to relevant parties.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Furthermore ICC needs to come into this issue as well, there has been firing in NZ mosque where BD team just escaped, blasts in few big hotels in Srl, Pakistan has been much safer in the mean time then few of the countries hosting international cricket.

Those attacks weren't targeted directly at the cricketers like the Pakistan attack.

 

[mgtow]

2009 was blunder due to clueless government and careless management. It will take time to fix the image. For now, focus on Kashmir. Awaam is beginning to get frustrated at the lack of response from Pakistan Army. They should concentrate on making Pakistan safer place reducing the source of threat to ashes.

 

[Ronaldo7]

What else do you want them to do?
Presidential security is required.

 

[shantanu]

Returm of cricket to pakistan is going to be a painfully dragged out process not a fabulous historical event. Ensuring qualified people do their stuff professionally will.help. espexially behind the scenes. the pcb should never have hyped the return . It set them up for failure initially itself. I wish ot returns to pak though. Pak cricket is too flavorful to be allowed to drift away into oblivion.

 

[PakLFC]

I wouldn't want to be playing under such levels of security all the time. When touring you want to be out and about experiencing the country as well when not playing. This will surely not be allowed with such levels of security in place at all times. ICC have a problem is such levels of security has become normal procedure.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I wouldn't want to be playing under such levels of security all the time. When touring you want to be out and about experiencing the country as well when not playing. This will surely not be allowed with such levels of security in place at all times. ICC have a problem is such levels of security has become normal procedure.

Pakistan can't take a risk.
If, God forbid, anything happens on the tour, cricket will be finished in Pakistan. We will have to keep this up until all the countries believe that we're safe

 

[PakLFC]

Pakistan can't take a risk.
If, God forbid, anything happens on the tour, cricket will be finished in Pakistan. We will have to keep this up until all the countries believe that we're safe

The side effects are that top players won't come if we have thousands of soldiers following them. True that having a second rate side visiting us is better then nothing.

 

[Saj]

Presidential level money.....now that will be more interesting to some players.

 

[BaankeJi]

I would have toured Pakistan if i was in place of Sri Lankan players.
Presidential level security + good food - what else you want?

 

[mgtow]

I would have toured Pakistan if i was in place of Sri Lankan players.
Presidential level security + good food - what else you want?

Not get bullet? Considering what happened in 2009, I don’t blame them.

 

[BaankeJi]

Not get bullet? Considering what happened in 2009, I don’t blame them.

With that level of security, there are no chances of getting a bullet.

 

[dildilpak]

Presidential level money.....now that will be more interesting to some players.

I agree, instead of providing insane security offer the visiting team more money. I am sure better teams like SA will come willingly.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Not get bullet? Considering what happened in 2009, I don’t blame them.

Considering 2009 was 10 years and terrorism since has decreased by 89%. I'd blame them alright.
They missed their chance to earn big bucks even though there was close to 0% chance of them getting attacked

 

[mgtow]

With that level of security, there are no chances of getting a bullet.

0 chance? Can you put that in writing? If attack happens then? Who will be responsible for that.

Considering 2009 was 10 years and terrorism since has decreased by 89%. I'd blame them alright.
They missed their chance to earn big bucks even though there was close to 0% chance of them getting attacked

What big bucks? Rich people are buried on earth with nothing on it so why take chance with your life for big bucks that can be easily doable elsewhere.

It is same SL team that was attacked 10 years ago and only that team has right to the opinion of whether or not to go.

 

[Ronaldo7]

0 chance? Can you put that in writing? If attack happens then? Who will be responsible for that.



What big bucks? Rich people are buried on earth with nothing on it so why take chance with your life for big bucks that can be easily doable elsewhere.

It is same SL team that was attacked 10 years ago and only that team has right to the opinion of whether or not to go.

Firstly, it's NOT the same SL team. They're playing for the same nation but are not the same people who toured in 2009.

Also, Money makes you lose all your fear.

 

[ahsan17]

It's a chicken and egg situation. Players won't tour without that security, but then people say that security suggests something is wrong. You have err on the side that is more likely to make players visit.

 

[mgtow]

Firstly, it's NOT the same SL team. They're playing for the same nation but are not the same people who toured in 2009.

Also, Money makes you lose all your fear.

It is not same players team so that means they are not entitled to blackout because they are not the one who got shot?

If money was everything, Graveyards will be filled money with dead body. Life is worth more.

 

[Ronaldo7]

It is not same players team so that means they are not entitled to blackout because they are not the one who got shot?

If money was everything, Graveyards will be filled money with dead body. Life is worth more.

Presidential security mate

They may not have the liberty to walk around freely but they'll definitely have the security and there's pretty much no chance they'll be targeted

 

[Rana]

Honestly speaking. These foreigners make too much of a big deal about Pakistan's security situation. Pakistan or Lahore is as safe as London is, or any city of India is.

The truth is that you cannot predict when and where a terrorist incident will take place and who is the target. Pakistan has nothing to offer except 'presidential security'. Otherwise they will never ever host any international cricket at home.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Honestly speaking. These foreigners make too much of a big deal about Pakistan's security situation. Pakistan or Lahore is as safe as London is, or any city of India is.

The truth is that you cannot predict when and where a terrorist incident will take place and who is the target. Pakistan has nothing to offer except 'presidential security'. Otherwise they will never ever host any international cricket at home.

People aren't scared of random terrorist attacks, those are far common in US than anywhere in the world. It's the organized terrorist threat which people fear. The bus attack in 2009 was organized and specifically targeted.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...warned-over-terrorist-threat-to-pakistan-tour

A random person is more likely to die in a US mass shooting than a suicide bomb blast in Pakistan. However Sri Lanka team is not random and will definitely be targeted to send a message.

Not all terrorist attacks are same.

 

[Rana]

People aren't scared of random terrorist attacks, those are far common in US than anywhere in the world. It's the organized terrorist threat which people fear. The bus attack in 2009 was organized and specifically targeted.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...warned-over-terrorist-threat-to-pakistan-tour

A random person is more likely to die in a US mass shooting than a suicide bomb blast in Pakistan. However Sri Lanka team is not random and will definitely be targeted to send a message.

Not all terrorist attacks are same.

Yes but what people dont seem to understand is that the probability of something like this to repeat itself is unlikely after the PCB's security lapse was exposed to the entire world. The issue isnt even about giving PCB or the Pakistani public another chance. Its simply the fact that teams would much rather not tour Pakistan at all as it doesn't come across as an attractive country in the first place.

I heard an interview of Abdul Qadir in which he was praising himself and recalled a meeting he had with Shane Warne who told him that "I would not ever tour Pakistan if it hadn't been for a chance to meet you." This is the mindset they have to deal with. Terrorism just becomes an easy excuse to not have to tour and keep your job as an international cricketer/ administrator.

 

[silentkiller187]

Yes but what people dont seem to understand is that the probability of something like this to repeat itself is unlikely after the PCB's security lapse was exposed to the entire world. The issue isnt even about giving PCB or the Pakistani public another chance. Its simply the fact that teams would much rather not tour Pakistan at all as it doesn't come across as an attractive country in the first place.

I heard an interview of Abdul Qadir in which he was praising himself and recalled a meeting he had with Shane Warne who told him that "I would not ever tour Pakistan if it hadn't been for a chance to meet you." This is the mindset they have to deal with. Terrorism just becomes an easy excuse to not have to tour and keep your job as an international cricketer/ administrator.

I agree, its like the incident provided teams with the excuse to skip Pakistan, as Botham once said, "Pakistan is the kind of place you would send your mother in law to for a month" we need to accept the reality of, unless we throw tons of cash at the players, 95% will not bother touring, the only players that may decide to come will be through genuine affection and affiliation with the PSL like Darren Sammy but that will be very rare.

 

[Rana]

I agree, its like the incident provided teams with the excuse to skip Pakistan, as Botham once said, "Pakistan is the kind of place you would send your mother in law to for a month" we need to accept the reality of, unless we throw tons of cash at the players, 95% will not bother touring, the only players that may decide to come will be through genuine affection and affiliation with the PSL like Darren Sammy but that will be very rare.

The other option is to modernise the country in the same fashion as we find in the UAE. Sitting in the comfort of London, I would hate to have to spend 4-6 weeks in Afghanistan playing cricket even if I am being paid for it. This is how Pakistan is viewed.

 

[Mamoon]

The possibility of another organized attack on a cricket team in Pakistan is obviously very, very low. I can say it with confidence that Pakistan is even capable of hosting a World Cup without any terrorist activities taking place.

However, what hurts Pakistan the most is the fact that we have zero international credibility and other countries have the perception that our state policy is to promote terrorism.

This perception is exaggerated, but to say that it is entirely false would be living in denial. Globally, Pakistan is barely viewed any better than countries like Afghanistan, war-torn Middle-East and African countries.

Considering the state of our country, our government and our military have very big mouths and inflated egos, but these big mouths and big egos cannot change the outlook of these countries.

Another important factor is that Pakistan has been reduced to a mediocre cricket nation over the last two decades. We are simply not a big team anymore.

As a result, playing in Pakistan or beating Pakistan in Pakistan is not the same as playing and winning in powerhouses like India, Australia, England etc.

Cricket cannot survive without these countries hosting the game, but it has survived just fine without playing in Pakistan.

As a result of all these reasons, convincing teams to tour Pakistan remains an uphill task. We need to look at it from the perspective of foreign players. What do they gain from taking the risk of touring Pakistan?

Will it make them twice as rich, will it enhance their legacy as a player, will it be remembered as the highlight of their respective careers? No, so why take the risk?

Pakistan has a long and tedious struggle of changing their global perception. The damage that we have caused to ourselves and to other countries over the last 30-40 years in particular cannot be undone in just a few years. Unfortunately, we are not even heading in the right direction so there is not much reason to be hopeful.

 

[mgtow]

Presidential security mate

They may not have the liberty to walk around freely but they'll definitely have the security and there's pretty much no chance they'll be targeted

Yay, Presidential security which means they will not be attacked at all.

Forget liberty. Forget freedom. Forget security. Focus on making Pakistan safer at first. It wasn’t that long that SL players were attacked and no repeat incident happened again because no major teams have bothered to tour Pakistan again. Pakistani forces are more concerned about politics than making Pakistan safer including IOK where people are getting killed left and right by Indian armies. And people are worried about SL team not touring Pakistan because GOD forbids if they get attacked but they have presidential security and money to take them to graveyard. Sometimes I can be amazed by grandeur of delusional here.

 

[Titan24]

Those attacks weren't targeted directly at the cricketers like the Pakistan attack.

True, but it has been more than a decade and things need to move forward.

 

[Titan24]

What else do you want them to do?
Presidential security is required.

I dont think so its required any more. It was fine for first few events but now the need of the hour is to show to the world things are normal which presidential level security and restricting players to hotels and stadium doesnt show in my opinion.

Security experts which come should be shown how safe Pakistan is or cities which are gonna hold matches are rather than how safe their team is gonna be while the country isnt safe, which is portraying wrong picture in my opinion.

Incident of 2009 wouldnt have happened even with couple of gun-mans with the team, let alone commandos and now overdoing it with presidential level security.

 

[Saj]

I agree, instead of providing insane security offer the visiting team more money. I am sure better teams like SA will come willingly.

As was proven by the World XI touring Pakistan not so long ago.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I dont think so its required any more. It was fine for first few events but now the need of the hour is to show to the world things are normal which presidential level security and restricting players to hotels and stadium doesnt show in my opinion.

Security experts which come should be shown how safe Pakistan is or cities which are gonna hold matches are rather than how safe their team is gonna be while the country isnt safe, which is portraying wrong picture in my opinion.

Incident of 2009 wouldnt have happened even with couple of gun-mans with the team, let alone commandos and now overdoing it with presidential level security.

We know pakistan is safe but the players don't.
The players may not be willing to come to pak if we don't give them presidential security

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

They have no other choice. Even if it's not necessary Pakistan just can not take any risk.

It is what it is.

 

[Titan24]

We know pakistan is safe but the players don't.
The players may not be willing to come to pak if we don't give them presidential security

True, but they will never know that Pakistan is safe unless they are treated normally just like any other place where they can go around with just the basic security (That too in Asian countries only).

In my opinion they will never be able to think Pakistan is safe till they are being given presidential security and are confined to their hotels.

I dont exactly know if Srl or any other board will have any issues if PCB gives them a decent security plan just like any other Asian country rather than providing them presidential level security which in my opinion gives a signal that their players need that much security in Pakistan because its required and things havent improved.

Though I understand your point of view as well but PCB will have to take the next step one day as its inevitable if Pakistan wants to regularly host teams just like any other country.

 

[Titan24]

They have no other choice. Even if it's not necessary Pakistan just can not take any risk.

It is what it is.

You are right but one day PCB will have to take the next step.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

You are right but one day PCB will have to take the next step.

The next step could take decades. Pak will need to improve its economy and improve its relationship with its neighbors to mitigate any form of possible terrorism. Only then teams like Aus, NZ will trust the PCB.

 

[ahsan17]

At some point, ICC needs to decide if an attack that happened 10+ years is too much time to use as the primary reason for teams to not tour. And that whether they should look at the current ground situation rather than a 10+ year old incident. Pakistan is as safe or safer now than it was at the time teams used to regularly tour Pakistan. Even UK has decreased its travel advisory.

The link to the data I am referring to is here:

https://www.satp.org/datasheet-terrorist-attack/fatalities/pakistan

Compare the data for 2018 and the partial data for 2019 with the data from 2004-2007 and early 2000s when all teams except Australia had toured Pakistan.

I am not sure if PCB is entirely relying on the "presidential security" message instead of also using verifiable data to prove that things are not the same as 2009 or the years that followed.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Yes but what people dont seem to understand is that the probability of something like this to repeat itself is unlikely after the PCB's security lapse was exposed to the entire world. The issue isnt even about giving PCB or the Pakistani public another chance. Its simply the fact that teams would much rather not tour Pakistan at all as it doesn't come across as an attractive country in the first place.

I heard an interview of Abdul Qadir in which he was praising himself and recalled a meeting he had with Shane Warne who told him that "I would not ever tour Pakistan if it hadn't been for a chance to meet you." This is the mindset they have to deal with. Terrorism just becomes an easy excuse to not have to tour and keep your job as an international cricketer/ administrator.

Perhaps that's also an issue. Pakistan needs to improve it's economy then. Look at Bangladesh, their team is a minnow but still steals players from South African T20 league. Money cna be a good incentive.

At the end of the day, cricketers are not heroes, they are salalrymen like rest of us. Provide them money and security, the will flock like birds. However Pakistan economy is not doing well, so perception fo the country is very poor.

 

[Rana]

Perhaps that's also an issue. Pakistan needs to improve it's economy then. Look at Bangladesh, their team is a minnow but still steals players from South African T20 league. Money cna be a good incentive.

At the end of the day, cricketers are not heroes, they are salalrymen like rest of us. Provide them money and security, the will flock like birds. However Pakistan economy is not doing well, so perception fo the country is very poor.

It needs to improve its social scene on a westernised tone. These players don’t want to spend 8-10 hours a day at nets, cricket grounds and gyms but not able to go out to a decent bar/restaurant after. Or spend all of their time at a hotel.

Until they don’t see that Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are pretty cool places like Mumbai and Delhi, add Dhaka to that as well, till then they wouldn’t see Pakistan as a place they could actually want to be in.

Look at Sri Lanka, it’s a dream destination for these players!