October 9, 2001	Tuesday	Rajab 21, 1422

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KARACHI, Oct 8: This month’s three-nation Sharjah one-day tournament was thrown into a spin as United States launched air attacks on Afghanistan Sunday evening.

The tournament is scheduled to run between Oct 26 and Nov 4 with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to vie for top honours in the double league contest.

“So far we have not received any correspondence from the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS). But if one’s understanding of the situation is correct, the tournament is in serious doubts, an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” requesting not to be quoted, said.

While Sri Lanka have already named their squad, Pakistan cricket selectors were expected to name the probables for the training camp sometime this week. The PCB officials were also quoted as saying in local media that they had asked coach Richard Pybus to confirm if he was available to take charge of the team.

Pybus, an England-born South African, had flown home three days after terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on Sept 11. The attacks forced New Zealand to return from Singapore on Sept 13.

“As far as the PCB is concerned, the series remains on until cancelled or postponed. Pakistan is committed to play in Sharjah and has all intentions of fulfilling its international promise unless advised by the foreign ministry,” sources within the PCB said.

The PCB plans to get in touch with CBFS officials sometime this week in an effort to chalk out its future strategy. The officials said they were keen to know if they had to allow its players to continue playing in the domestic first-class competition or to invite them for a reconditioning camp.

In Harare, Zimbabwe Cricket Union said its cricket team’s tour of Sharjah was still on.

ZCU managing director Dave Ellman-Brown said Sunday that they have not heard anything from the tournament organizers concerning any security fears and therefore the tour is still on.

“Whatever decision we are going to make will be guided by the tournament organizers. At the moment we have not received any correspondence from the tournament organizers,” he said.

“We will be looking at the situation daily before we decide anything. So at the moment the tour is still on.”

“We will only cancel the tour when there is evidence that the safety of our players will be at risk as a result of the US-led military action In Afghanistan.”

Pakistan, according to its contract with CBFS, is committed to appear in at least two tournaments in a year with guaranteed appearance money of $350,000. The Sharjah tournaments have already lost a lot of charm after New Delhi banned Indian cricket team to participate in tournament held on non-regular venues, including Sharjah which has hosted the highest number of limited overs internationals.

Earlier this year, India withdrew from the competition, which forced the organizers to invited New Zealand as the makeshift team. Sri Lanka won the tournament defeating Pakistan in the final after having lost two league matches.

Also expected to suffer from US strikes is Afghanistan’s cricket team which was due to make its debut in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-II competition staring Oct 15.

Afghanistan were to play Nowshehra at Peshawar in the two-day match on Oct 15-16. Also in the group were Northern Areas, Haripur and Mardan besides Nowshehra and Afghanistan.

“Frankly speaking, the situation is very fluid.

“At the moment, the players would be more concerned about their country rather than playing cricket in Pakistan. The issue will be discussed this week and if required, necessary changes will be made in the draw,” sources said.

Afghanistan cricketers played a string of matches in Peshawar and Rawalpindi in May. Their performance might have been below par, but their outfits, attitude, approach and potential made headlines in every cricketing nation.