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Untitled Document
 Don't let cricket be derailed by terrorism: Aaqib Javed
4th Aug 2008 22:00 IST
Agencies
Pakistan's former Test pacer Aaqib Javed believes the International Cricket Council needs to play a more proactive role in ensuring all the top teams take part in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next month as no place in the world was safe today.
Aaqib said the ICC needed to put its foot down against the teams and players raising the security issue and are averse to travelling to Pakistan.
"These things are now part of our lives and we have to live with them. There have been some blasts in China as well with the Olympics starting this week. Life has to go on," he said.
The pacer, who is a top coach at the National Cricket academy in Lahore, said the ICC needed to do what it could to ensure all teams make it for the Champions Trophy.
He pointed out that Pakistan's strongest claim to hosting the tournament successfully was that never had there been any incident affecting a sporting event.
"Cricket has never been hit by such incidents. Even in India and England they had blasts during a series but cricket went on. Same should apply to Pakistan."
Aaqib said teams and players must take heed of the security assurances being given by the Pakistan board and government.
"They are now talking about having the Champions League starting one day after the trophy ends in Pakistan. When players can play there in existing circumstances they can do the same in Pakistan."
Aaqib said he could understand the mindset of the foreign players but the bottom line was that canceling cricket events in Pakistan was not the answer or solution to the existing conditions.
"The players need to put up a brave front and play a bigger role in ensuring that sports is not derailed by terrorism," the pacer said. |
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