Top players may boycott Champions Trophy
Posted on Jul 25, 2008 at 11:25 | Updated Jul 25, 2008 at 23:22
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Tags: Champions Trophy, Pakistan, security
Melbourne: Miffed with the ICC for retaining Pakistan as the venue for this year's Champions Trophy, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) on Friday called on Ricky Ponting's men to pull out of the tournament.
"If it continues in Pakistan at this volatile time, unfortunately many of the world's best players won't participate, which is not a good outcome for cricket," ACA chief Paul Marsh said in a statement.
"Based on the independent information and advice received, we maintain that the risks are simply too great for the ACA to recommend that our players tour Pakistan at this time.
"We would expect Cricket Australia to adopt the same position," he added.
The ICC, after a teleconference with the eight participating nations on Thursday, decided to retain Pakistan as the venue despite opposition from the cricket boards of Australia and England.
Marsh said ICC's decision was disappointing and despite security reports giving an all-clear, Pakistan remained a risky place to hold the biennial event.
"The ACA continues to have serious concerns with our players touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and we are disappointed with the ICC's decision," Marsh said.
Marsh said the ACA was trying to get more information on the ICC task force that would coordinate with embassies of the participating nations to ease their security concerns.
"We are seeking clarity on the purpose and role of the proposed task force, so we are unable to comment on it at this stage," he said.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled in September and top Australian cricketers including Ponting and all-rounder Andrew Symonds are apprehensive about travelling to Pakistan.
BIPIN DANI ADDS:
Speaking from United States, the Chief Executive of Federation of International Cricketers' Associations Tim May said, "player contracts differ from country to country. However, it is possible for the majority of players to refuse to sign the player terms for the event and not to be obligated to attend the Champions Trophy. I understand that there are many players who will not tour Pakistan".
There is little that ICC or PCB can do about this - with the exception of demonstrating that there are not any security issues over there at the moment - which is inconsistent with all security reports," he further added.
Almost similar views were expressed by Heath Mills, the CEO for New Zealand Cricket Players' Association (NZCPA). Speaking almost 20 hours afer the decision was announced, he said, "our recommendation to our players is that they do not travel to Pakistan at this point in time".
"We feel for the Pakistan Cricket Board and we want to support them as they cannot help the security situation in their country but nevertheless player safety must always be our number one priority and having read all reports we do not feel it is safe enough for our players to be in Pakistan at this point in time."
"However, ultimately it is NZC's decision as to whether or not they try and send a team but they need to abide by NZ laws and guarantee a safe workplace for our players which I doubt they can do," Mills signed off.
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Posted By Naveed
Well everybody knows country\''s living under the shadow of union jack are basically bunch of turkeys and chicken who could
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Posted By anil kumar
this is no done for cricket
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