'Cricket will soon flourish in Pakistan'

The International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat has termed Pakistan as one of the favourites for the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 2010 that takes place in the West Indies from April 30.

Lorgat held a press conference in Karachi yesterday – a month before the final of the third version takes place in Antigua – thus becoming the first high-ranking ICC official to visit Pakistan following the Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team last March. He was joined by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi at the event that also featured the World Twenty20 trophy that Pakistan won in England last year.

“I’m sitting next to the captain of the defending champions and I know when you’re the top seed, there is an added responsibility and greater pressure but this is a very experience Pakistan team that is going across to defend the title,” said Lorgat. “They’re a very competent side and there’s no reason why this team can’t bring this trophy back to Pakistan.”

Afridi, who has seen various injuries in the three-week training camp currently being held in Lahore, seemed confident that his side not only had the right players needed to lift the trophy but also the team morale and confidence levels that complement the physical talent.

“Going into the tournament as defending champions will add to the pressure but we’re all confident,” said Afridi. “We’ll be playing as a unit, supporting each other and there’s not reason why we can’t win again.”

Pakistan went into last year’s tournament severely under-prepared as following the Lahore attack, foreign teams have refused to tour Pakistan. Lorgat ruled out the notion that foreign teams had acted in a ‘racist manner’ and termed it a ‘sophisticated and complex’ issue.

“The security issue is very complex and complicated. It is untrue to suggest that the reluctance is on racist grounds but, simply put, it is the lack of confidence the visiting teams have in visiting Pakistan in a safe environment.”

The ICC CEO compared Pakistan’s case to South Africa’s when the latter were barred from international participation until 1991. “It is an unfortunate situation cricket is facing in Pakistan but the nation has the resolve and patience to work itself through the difficult period and I’m sure cricket will flourish in Pakistan very soon.”

© Faras Ghani 2010

Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 16, 2010