Ringside View: Making the most of a bad situation

It is more than two weeks since the bomb blast in Karachi that resulted in the cancellation of the second Test and New Zealand's early return home, but things still remain in a state of flux. Pakistan as a cricketing destination is still very much under threat of exclusion. Australia has not decided about the August tri-nation, nor has New Zealand. But there is every likelihood that the series, a quid-pro-quo for Pakistan visiting Australia in June for the second Super Challenge trophy and sacrificing the one-day series that was part of the Test rubber later in the year, would be a victim of security fears.

That being the emerging scenario, Sharjah has jumped into the fray with an offer of providing the neutral venue once again. Pakistan's frustration is an opportunity for the CBFS!

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tried to duck the issue, at least for the moment. One can hardly find fault with this strategy, as forcing the hand of the Aussies, or the Black Caps, might have had negative consequences. Behind the scenes, efforts are being made to persuade the boards involved to come over. And to score a point or two over the doubters, the PCB approved the proposed itinerary of their visit to Zimbabwe earlier this week. Zimbabwe was the destination the Aussies declined to tour recently.

As that trip is a long way off, in the first week of November, the alacrity in approving the itinerary is probably meant to imply that Pakistan would not opt out of a series on the pretext of security, whatever the situation. And the assurances of the host Board in this regard are good enough for them. Whether this display of conviction has any impact on Australia and others remains to be seen.

Ideally, New Zealand and Australia should forget the blast, and show their commitment to cricket. Especially after Martin Snedden, Cheief Exececutive of New Zealand Cricket, acknowledged that the PCB and Pakistan government had done everything in their power to ensure the security of their players, and also that their team was not the target.

There is precedence of far more high profile events taking place than a tri-nation series or a Test rubber in countries where there was serious threat of terrorist activity. England hosted three World Cups when the IRA was active; the '92 Olympic games were hosted by Barcelona despite terrorist threats from Basque separatists; not a single event in the '96 Games was interrupted after an explosion in the centre of Atlanta. There have been suicide bombings in other cricket playing countries and in one, an Indian ex-Prime Minister died while canvassing. Whatever the scale of tragedy, or the threat of one, life goes on. Has Manhattan been closed down after the September 11 tragedy?

As things are, with the Australian Cricket Board keeping diplomatic silence, the PCB can only hope that it would give thumbs up to the only two activities that are to be held in this country in the next season. And if they keep Pakistan waiting for a long time, even if they come, the PCB would not be able to make the most of it, as it would be left with next to no time to market the limited-overs tournament.

But what does the PCB do if Australia and New Zealand decline to tour? The threat of the Asian Cricket Council to boycott those who do not visit its members, which may have helped the Black Caps reschedule the series, even ignoring players fatigue, stands diluted. In the circumstances, a neutral venue remains the only option. And the PCB, while trying to convince the doubters, must not deprive its team of cricket and the revenue it could earn.

This would not be very popular with those who follow cricket with a passion in Pakistan, but it is the only realistic alternative. However much we want to see Pakistan prevail over the Aussies with our own spectators exhorting Waqar Younis and his charges, if that is not possible there is no harm making the best of a bad situation.