The South African cricket players’ union voiced ”serious concern” on Friday over the safety situation in Pakistan after world cricket chiefs decided not to change the venue of September’s Champions Trophy.
Reacting to Thursday’s decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to keep the tournament in Pakistan, South African Cricketers’ Association chief executive Tony Irish said his organisation wanted to work with Cricket South Africa before taking a final stance on whether the Proteas should participate or not.
”It is premature to suggest that we have pulled out,” Irish said.
”We have serious concerns and we want to work with Cricket South Africa about whether the team will go or not.”
When South Africa last toured Pakistan in October 2007, the team refused to play in Karachi following advice from a security expert who was accompanying them. Karachi, along with Lahore and Rawalpindi, will one of the host venues for the tournament.
”All security reports suggest the situation in Pakistan is very fluid and the situation is escalating all the time. What happened a year ago is not the same as what’s happening there now,” Irish added.
He was pleased that the ICC’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, had explained on Thursday that players and national boards would not be fined if they opted out of the tournament.
”It does give us a little comfort [what Lorgat said), because it shows that they are concerned about player safety and it’s important that that comes first.”
The Champions Trophy, which is the second-most important one-day competition on the cricket calendar, is due to take place in Pakistan from September 11 to 28.
Pakistan is fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in its north-western tribal regions bordering Afghanistan and has suffered a string of deadly suicide bomb attacks in the last year that have killed more than 1 000 people. — AFP
