Lahore gets the final show
Due to security concerns expressed by the South African team after a suicide attack on the ex-PM Benazir Bhutto in Karachi, the final clash between Pakistan and South Africa has been shifted from Karachi’s National Stadium to Lahore.
Pakistan team-mates celebrate the fall of Herchelle Gibbs on Oct.23 in the 3rd ODI played at Faisalabad – Image Source: AFP through Cricinfo
“The fifth ODI will now be played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on 29th October,” read a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The venue was changed on the request of the South African team management.”
“On the request of the PCB, the South African team management sent one of their security officers to Karachi yesterday who held meetings with various offices of the government of Sindh. Despite all assurances given to the security officer, he felt that playing in Karachi was not feasible for the moment.”
South Africa avoided playing in Karachi on their previous tour in 2003, but played a warm-up game and a Test this time, staying in the city for over ten days. But the twin suicide bombs targeted at Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, that killed 140 people and injured hundreds more last Thursday made the situation uncomfortable for South Africa.
Osman Samiuddin at Cricinfo writes in detail: Final ODI shifted to Lahore
Lahoris get another chance to witness an exciting match between the two teams, out of which Pakistan leads the ODI series with two wins over South Africa’s single success.
Karachi’s loss is Lahore’s gain.
ICC should plan cricket series not between Pakistan and other test playing nations but between punjab and other nations.
@JayJay,comments like Karachi’s Loss is Lahore’s Gain – punjabigardi at it’s best!!!!
The decision was taken by South Africans only due to security fears. No one persuaded them to shift venue just for the sake of keeping the event in ‘Punjab’…
These are exactly the same wordings which blind karachites used during 90s when the entire city was a battle field and businessmen had to move to Lahore and karachi waley said k sara punjabi kera rahe hai.
Well I guess there are no security fears in Jamaica (with high crime rate) and Colombo (with daily bomb scares). These foreign teams play there and dont raise any issues. I think other boards simply say no to requests of moving venues. PCB is every ready to make it an all-punjab affair.
arrogance at its best !!!
Johanesberg is far more dangerous then any Pakistani City ? It’s our board – which is bias and somehow historically pressed players from Karachi ( Basit Ali being one of the victums) .
Anyhow, it’s so obvious now that the board is somehow making it a ‘Punjabi Bhangra’ – although Dr.Nasim Ashraf should be thankful to a Karachi Man for giving him the post – but then again, who would stand against punjabigardi?
well Punjab Cricket Board is too soft and fragile on these demands by South Africans. At the meeting about changing the venue from Karachi to Lahore, no official from Karachi was invited so that tells you something.
Pakistan team from now should be called Punjab Cricket Team.
well Punjab Cricket Board is too soft and fragile on these demands by South Africans. At the meeting about changing the venue from Karachi to Lahore, no official from Karachi was invited so that tells you something.
Pakistan team from now should be called Punjab Cricket Team.
The decision was not taken before security officials of the South African team had visited the Karachi venue and reviewed security concerns themselves.