Pakistan: How New Zealand cricket workforce survived a bomb assault in 2002

On September 17 this yr, the New Zealand cricket workforce deserted their tour of Pakistan over safety considerations. The announcement was made simply an hour earlier than the beginning of the first ODI match. The ‘B’ workforce of New Zealand was scheduled to play a 3-match ODI collection in opposition to Pakistan in Rawalpindi, adopted by a 5-match T20 collection in opposition to them in Lahore.
However, the last-minute snub was fuelled by safety considerations that had been raised by the Intelligence alliance of the US, Australia, UK, Canada and New Zealand (additionally known as the Five eyes). It led to a serious embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistani authorities. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar even accused the NZC of destroying the nation’s cricket with only one choice. Three days afterward September 20, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pulled the plug on their tour in October.
Ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in UAE, the England Men’s workforce was scheduled to play 2 back-to-back T20Is on October 13 and 14 in Pakistan. On the opposite hand, the Women’s workforce was scheduled to play 2 T20Is and three ODIs. However, ECB adopted the footsteps of New Zealand, leaving the Pakistanis excessive and dry. This is, nevertheless, not the primary time {that a} collection with New Zealand was cancelled over safety threats. Almost 2 many years in the past, NZC discovered itself in the same scenario.
2002 Karachi bombing and New Zealand Team
On May 8, 2002, a large explosion passed off inside a bus that was parked exterior the resort of the visiting New Zealand workforce in Karachi, reported The Guardian. The lethal bomb blast claimed the lives of 12 individuals and injured 34 others. Out of the 12 deceased, about 10 of them had been defence technicians from France. The New Zealand cricketers had a slender escape. Martin Snedden, the Chief Executive of NZC, determined to cancel the second check match that was scheduled to start on that day in Karachi.
During a press convention, he remarked, “I will now arrange to have the team immediately fly out of Pakistan and return home to New Zealand. I don’t think this was a decision that was a difficult one to make quickly. The safety of our players is always a major priority. I have spoken to Brigadier Rana of the Pakistan Cricket Board and conveyed our decision to him. Our main priority now is to bring the players home safely to their families.”
Screengrab of the article revealed in The Guardian
Prior to the phobia assault, aspersions had been solid concerning the safety preparations in Pakistan within the context of the 9/11 assaults. The New Zealand workforce however got here following assurances by the then Pakistani authorities and evaluation of plans by NZC authorities. However, the safety businesses within the nation couldn’t stop the bomb blast that was believed to be carried out by a suicide bomber. Waqar Younis, who was the captain of the Pakistani workforce, nevertheless, understood the influence that the phobia assault would have on the way forward for cricket within the nation.
“Thanks be to God that all the players and the officials of both the teams are safe. But cricket will suffer badly in Pakistan. We are helpless and can’t play cricket in these conditions which is sad for cricket lovers in Pakistan as well as for the teams. We wait to see what measures the Pakistan Cricket Board will take for the future cricket,” he had mentioned then. Sindh police chief Kamal Shah had tried to pin the blame on India and the Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. “We cannot rule out the involvement of al-Qaeda, but our suspicions are across the border. I am pointing towards India,” he had claimed.
Terror assault on the Sri Lanka Team in 2009
While Pakistan continues guilty India for stalling the event of cricket within the nation, the reality stays that the Pakistani military paid the worth for offering a protected haven to terrorists. 7 years after the New Zealand workforce narrowly escaped the Karachi bombing, the visiting Srilankan facet got here within the line of a lethal terror assault on March 3 in 2009. The guests had been en path to the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore for Day 3 of the 2nd checks when the assault passed off. The goal of the terrorists was the convoy of the Sri Lankan workforce.
Terrorists firing on the convoy of Sri Lankan workforce, picture through Reuters
Equipped with weapons, hand grenades and RPGs, the Islamic terrorists stormed the Liberty Chowk in Lahore and opened fired on the convoy of cricketers. The driver of the bus sustained gunshot wound however managed to steer the bus to security. In the lethal assault, about 7 individuals had been killed and 20 others had been injured (together with 7 Sri Lankan gamers). “For some reason, I moved my head to get a better view and a split second later I felt a bullet fizz past my ear into the vacant seat,” recounted Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene.
He thanked the bus driver for saving his life and that of the workforce members. “We owe the team bus driver our lives for his remarkable bravery in the face of direct gunfire … Had he not had the courage and presence of mind to get the bus moving after the initial attack then we’d have been a far easier target for the terrorists,” Jaywardene mentioned. In the aftermath of the assault, Lahore police officer Haji Habibur Rehman tried to pin the blame on India and its Intelligence company Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) by citing a non-existent Intelligence enter from the Punjab authorities. His declare was rubbished by the police chief Khawaja Khalid Farooq.
Future of cricket in Pakistan
In the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistanis have come out in assist of the unconventional Islamist outfit. The fanaticism additionally discovered resonance with the incumbent Imran Khan authorities. Reuters reported that the federal government had determined to ship ISI chief to Afghanistan to assist the Taliban reorganise their navy. It additionally supposed to supply vital coaching to the Taliban, largely made up of Pashtun fighters educated in Pakistan madrasas.
As such, the opportunity of a safety menace in Pakistan, which has been harbouring UN-designated terrorists, can’t be dominated out. However, as a substitute of cleansing their mess, Pakistanis are busy peddling conspiracy theories of India’s involvement. Following a twin snub by New Zealand and England Cricket Board, the home cricket season of Pakistan lies in tatters.