“Yes, an offer was made to me,” Lara revealed when asked about the matter.
He said he was approached by organizers but did not want to associate himself with the event which is not sanctioned by either the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Until such time as the governing body in Pakistan is able to convince the rest of the world that the best safety mechanisms have been put in place, and the ICC agrees, I would have to say no,” said Lara.
In what is considered to be a small step towards normalcy, several international players arrived in Karachi to take part in exhibition matches as Pakistan looks to revive top-flight international cricket in the country.
Deprived of top-flight action since March 2009 – when the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked – fans are now looking to these two fixtures at the weekend with hope.
The International World XI and Pakistan All Stars promised high quality action in back-to-back exhibition matches that start tonight at the National Stadium, Karachi.
COMMENTS (29)
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Pakistan has to end this terrorism and these terrorism is affecting Pakistan economy otherwise today Pakistan would have gained a lot of success and prosperity but could not have just due to this disgusting terrorism.
@DevilHunterX. Okay, that's true and I am sure he knows that. He also knows that those people have actively or passively approved the kind of behavior of attackers of the Srilankan team and their friends show everyday.
@DevilHunterX: Those 180 Million living in Pakistan are REAL brave men/women. (Malala is an example). Pakistan is not for Cowards. :D
Le we should not be overjoyed about thiese matches and pray that terrorists dont attack common man az all security will be used to prove cricket is safe in Pakistan.
I am an overseas baaed pakistani even i cant dare bring my family to pakistan anymore. Although I would like to help girls like Malala to defeat extremisn and terrorism in Pakistan.
@Faizan Ayyub: “Until such time as the governing body in Pakistan is able to convince the rest of the world that the best safety mechanisms have been put in place, and the ICC agrees, I would have to say no,” said Lara.
@dude: According to Gordon Brown (the exPM of UK) over 90% of world terrorism is linked to the Land of The Pure. From this mathematical stats you can figure how many are terrorist sympathizers.
@DevilHunterX: and 33 million in iraq.........
@DevilHunterX: how many are terrorists and how many terrorist sympathizers?
'They only live who dare'.
Someone should tell him that 180 Million people live in Pakistan.
He is right!
This $1.5m figure looks a cooked up figure to me :)
@sj: IPL is organised and backed by Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) while in this case PCB is no associated/ involved .
Are we this desperate that we have to offer $1.5 million for couple of days of holidays (because it is an unofficial, unsanctioned friendly match that means nothing to the foreign players) to foreign players? I don't think even IPL will pay lara $1.5million for the entire season! How much does sanath jayasurya gets..he doesnt even figure in any t20 or ipls. Kalicharan? he probably uses false teeth to chew his food!
How about this idea, give all these money, apparently millions of dollars, to our current squad? So that they have enough money and dont have temptation to throw/fix any matches! Or invest this money for up and coming talents, instead of wasting on sanath and kalicharans of the world for a 'one night' stand?
brian lara learning from katrina kaif..........
no one bought him for 200000 for full IPL, haha
Good move Lara!
and he would have been eagar to attend events like IPL without giving a second thought.... C'mon Brian...Isn't Jayasuria et al's life precious enough to have best safety mechanisms in place?
cannot trust anything ET says, they say something, then later ''correct' it sliently..
Lara ;yougo climb a rock
He refused because these games are unofficial and unsanctioned & it is not being organized by the PCB.
Brian Lara took a principled stand. By not taking responsiblity, BCP has sent a very wrong message to the world. Cowards sitting in BCP are enjoing full perks and benefits, therefore they don't care whether International cricket comes to Pakistan or not. These are cricketers and fans who are at loss.
His life is much dearer to him than money to risk it.
Lara, yours was a bad decision...
Really? 1.5 million US dollars? Cricinfo says the total budget is 320,000 USD. Go figure.