Attacks Threaten Pakistan’s Place In World Cricket

Pakistan seems likely to be ostracised from world cricket, including losing the Champions Trophy tournament, following a terrorist attack in the country which saw the Sri Lankan cricket team’s tour bus targeted by gunman as it approached the Gaddaffi Stadium in Lahore.

The attack was reportedly a co-ordinated terrorist ploy, and resulted in the deaths of six policemen and two civilians, as well as injuries to the six cricketers, the coaching staff and match umpires. Following the shooting, the Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was cancelled and the Sri Lankan team was immediately evacuated and returned home.

This attack comes in the wake of continuous violence occurring in Pakistan, a country that is battling an uprising of extreme militants with alleged links to al-Qaeda.

The ongoing violence had already caused unrest within the International Cricket Council over security at the upcoming 2011 World Cup, which was expected to take place in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Following this most recent terrorist incident, it is unlikely any tournament, including the Champions Trophy, will be held in Pakistan.

The last Champions Trophy – which was supposed to occur in Pakistan in September 2008 – was delayed due to violence and ultimately postponed after South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand all expressed concern and threatened to pull out of the tournament if it was not relocated.

With the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai in India still fresh in memory, and now the ambush of a cricketers’ tour bus, it seems Pakistan will have difficulty convincing the ICC, and the rest of the cricket world, that it can provide enough security to host the upcoming Champions Trophy, World Cup, or international cricket of any kind in the immediate future.