The Karachi Test Match Debate...is England's refusal justified?

[m_vaughan]

Most of you here must be aware that England have refused to play a test match in Karachi citing "security reasons". They have also not confirmed whether they will be playing two back to back ODIs at the same venue.

Are you happy with this decision?

To be honest, I was initially very much on the side of the ECB, but after reading Miandad's interview, I think the former Pakistani coach has made some valid comments.

I think the security reasons are pretty much based on the bomb blast outside an hotel during the last NZ tour. Now that was in May 2002, a good three years back.
If teams continue to boycott Karachi, we might not have any more test matches there at all, that is, it might get completely isolated from test cricket.

Day before Yesterday (July 7) we had a series of blasts in the capital. And yet the two NatWest Challenge matches will go ahead. Double standards??
I think on the basis of England's/SA's and Australia's refusal to play in Karachi, teams should refuse to play test matches at Lord's and The Oval. But will that happen? I dont think so.

So why is it different for Karachi?

 

[icyman]

During the NZ tour..there was a bomb blast right out side the kiwis hotel and could have been fatal...
i think that they are right in not playing a test there.maybe the onedayers might help.India had done the same last time.
The blasts in london did not hurt any player as such..neither were they done in front of the hotels.

Also the British police are much more reliable than the Indians or Pakistanis(no offense meant to either nation).
So england is right in refusing to play at Karachi as a test will count for a minimum of 7 days stay in that city.

 

[Ryand]

I think it is up to the touring team to decide wheter they want to play or not.Anyway its a reasonable compromise to play an odi instead of a test.The same was done when Pak toured India

 

[jonah]

Almost any venue or place in the world these days could be a target for terrorists (New York, Bali, Madrid, Istanbul, London), such is the unfortunate way of things these days. An England team in Pakistan would be a huge security risk (due obviously to our allegiance to the US and the Iraq situation), and I would be surprised if they played any matches at all out there. It's got to be up to the individuals concerned.
The one dayers in London this weekend will have a huge security presence, and are going ahead as a stand against the atrocities on Thursday, making a clear statement to the terrorists that they'll not win. God forbid anything should happen.

 

[Sureshot]

People should try and lead a normal life. Wouldn't bother me going to karachi. Although they could help us more in the search for Bin Laden.

 

[avirax]

Yes they ****ing well are justified. I wouldnt wanna go there, suicide bomb ****ers.

 

[faraz haider]

well i think england should play a back to back onedayers if they are not playing testmatch. well not giving karachi a testmatch is like another terrorist attack on karachi citizens, as citizen of karachi are very die hearted fan of cricket and i know it is very sad that english team are not playing in our city.

 

[avirax]

well i think england should play a back to back onedayers if they are not playing testmatch. well not giving karachi a testmatch is like another terrorist attack on karachi citizens, as citizen of karachi are very die hearted fan of cricket and i know it is very sad that english team are not playing in our city.

Wow, they aint playing in your city, big deal, get over it. Travel to another ****ing city, its not hard if you are a die hard cricket fan.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Why the hell are they playing in London? Why not Karachi? Why the hell did we play in Ahmedabad when thier killing muslims there?

and Avirax you have a big problem!

 

[m_vaughan]

Avirax requires loads of grey matter imo.

 

[T20]

Why the hell did we play in Ahmedabad when thier killing muslims there?

and Avirax you have a big problem!

looking at your statement so do you.

 

[faraz haider]

well i think this thread is going way over the topic. how the hell osama came in this thread , and please avirax dont give silly excuse and please use simple language.

 

[Mahesh Babu]

well i think this thread is going way over the topic. how the hell osama came in this thread , and please avirax dont give silly excuse and please use simple language.

Since osama belongs to karachi
But still all eams should play test/odi matches in karachi

 

[faraz haider]

who tell you osama belongs to karachi, osama belongs to afghanistan

 

[m_vaughan]

he must have meant some other osama