The report by the tribunal, formed after the shooting that killed six security officials and injured seven Sri Lankan team members, termed the security arrangements to have been made ‘only on paper’ and, in the 106-page inquiry report compiled after examining 69 witnesses, the tribunal expressed resentment that proper security plans were prepared but not followed by the concerned officers. It also added that senior security officials were not present on the designated posts assigned to them in the security plan.
Following the attack, Pakistan’s status as 2011 World Cup co-hosts was stripped off them and due to the reluctance of foreign teams visiting, Pakistan have been forced to play their home series abroad.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) supported the PCB by chalking out plans to organise Pakistan’s ‘home’ series abroad and apart from forming a task force to revive cricket in the country, the ICC also requested the PCB to submit the inquiry report to them. According to former ICC president Ehsan Mani, the report will play a role in determining the return of international cricket to Pakistan and until the member countries analyse the report, a clear hesitancy to tour Pakistan will be on show. By not submitting the report, Mani said, the PCB has been unable to form a strategy with the ICC.
While the PCB officials have maintained that the inquiry report is ready, the board is waiting for the government’s approval before sending it to the ICC. PCB spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar said that the board was willing to hand over the report to the ICC but only after the government gives the go-ahead. “It was a judicial inquiry and we require permission from the government to dispatch the report to the ICC,” said Sarwar.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2010.
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