ISLAMABAD: Extra security cover for visiting cricketers may prove counter-productive in the long run as there is a need to provide ease of movement to the players.
Admitted that no cricket-playing country has experienced testing times as much as Pakistan following the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009, a lot has changed since then. Over the years Pakistan’s security agencies led by the armed forces have done wonders to change the overall perception about the security situation in the country. The past 10 years have seen a complete recovery in the law and order situation, which now stands at par with any other cricket-playing nation.
Even Bazid Khan, a former Test cricketer and now a leading commentator, believes that now it is more about earning the confidence of visiting teams rather than providing them extra security cover.
“The main concern of visiting teams these days is not foolproof security cover but easy movement during their stay in Pakistan. Players and officials want to have easy access to places of their liking. That has not been the case so far,” he said. “I believe the time has come when we need to ease the foreign teams’ movement in Pakistan. Security should be the top priority but security at the expense players’ mental relaxation will not serve the purpose.”
Over the years, the security situation in major cities has improved leaps and bounds. International squash, tennis, badminton and taekwondo tournaments have been a regular feature in Pakistan all these years. Last year almost 100 foreign tennis, squash and badminton players were in Pakistan at one time.
“We have to address the genuine concern of the visiting teams and that is not security anymore. Excessive security is the main issue,” Bazid said.
Blocking all roads leading to the Pindi Stadium and giving the touring squad the impression that security is still a problem will not help in attracting more teams.