Worried Pcb Insures Tour
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday January 21, 2008
WORLD cricket's incoming boss said he hoped Australia would go ahead with their proposed tour to Pakistan in March - but Ricky Ponting's side will not come under pressure from the hosts if the trip is deemed unsafe thanks to an insurance policy that means they will lose minimal money if the series is cancelled.
International Cricket Council president-elect David Morgan yesterday put his faith in the security measures being put in place by Pakistan's board so the series may proceed in the politically volatile country, as the February 18 general election approaches.It was thought that if the series was cancelled or switched to a neutral venue, the Pakistan Cricket Board would lose a large sum of money. But the Herald can reveal that the PCB has already insured the series for $US7.4 million ($8.5m) and would only lose an estimated $500,000 in gate takings.Pakistan began insuring series in June last year after touring Scotland for a charity match that was washed out, only to learn that organisers had insured the game and were financially covered."We thought, if a country doesn't agree with touring here, we should insure," the PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said. "There were a variety of reasons we insured ... if the series doesn't go ahead, we won't lose much financially. But if there were any issues of safety for Australia, we would be the first ones to say something."Morgan, who will assume the ICC presidency in May, said yesterday: "I believe that the processes are in place and that they will be invoked quite properly, and I would hope that cricketers can be protected and looked after."Pakistan has a great tradition of cricket ... and it would be rather sad if it turned out that there were good reasons why that tour couldn't proceed. Zimbabwe are in Pakistan currently, and I hope that the level of safety and security will be such that cricket tours to Pakistan can go ahead."The Australian tour was put in doubt by the assassination of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto last month, while more than 20 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Lahore on January 10.Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association plan a visit to the country soon to assess security arrangements. If they are not satisfied, the ICC might look at the situation on the ground."The system requires Cricket Australia to consult with the Australian Government, to send their own safety consultants into Pakistan to assess the situation and, if necessary, after CA made their assessment, the ICC could send in its independent audit team," Morgan said.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald