July 31, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1429

LONDON, July 30: Former Test fast bowler and leading English cricket writer Mike Selvey has questioned the reluctance of players from England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September and said it amounts to double standards and hypocrisy.

Selvey, a respected correspondent with the highly reputable daily The Guardian, in his Tuesday’s article titled ‘The greater the money on offer less the worry on bombs’ drew parallels between the current security situation in Pakistan and the July 7, 2005 bombings in London.

He wrote: “In 2005 Australia and England played One-day Internationals at Lord’s and The Oval just days after the July 7 atrocities in central London. If memory serves, there was no clamour to leave.

“Last winter England toured Sri Lanka even as bombs were exploding in Colombo and its environs. My family and I remained in Sri Lanka after the tour to enjoy a memorable Christmas and to appreciate that sometimes the reality outweighs the perception.”

According to Selvey, many of those expressing fears about touring Pakistan were the same players who played a season in the Indian Premier League in May 14 when as many as six bombs exploded in Jaipur, causing at least 80 deaths besides injuring 150.

“Three days later, in the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan Royals beat Bangalore Royal Challengers with players including Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis of South Africa and Shane Watson and Cameron White of Australia featuring in the game.”

“I have not heard any concerns about the future of the IPL if such incidents continue,” continued Selvey. “Would Kevin Pietersen, say, be so adamant about not touring Pakistan if he had just signed a 3 million pounds contract with Lahore Lightning in the PPL?

“Saturday’s bombs in Ahmedabad, venue for England’s first Test against India later in the year, give further cause for thought.”—Agencies