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ISLAMABAD: Former Test fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday dissuaded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from inviting foreign teams to play in Pakistan because of the prevailing fragile security situation.
Shoaib’s earnest advice came at a time when the PCB is desperately trying to host international events in the country.
Pakistan has not hosted international cricket ever since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009.
“Our citizens are not safe and there is a war going on in the country. Therefore, inviting a team in these conditions will be risky,” remarked the Rawalpindi Express while talking to reporters.
Shoaib, 36, added: “What if any visiting is attacked again? So, I would recommend to the PCB not to invite foreign teams since the country is not in a position to stage any international event.”
Commenting on PCB’s plan to host the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) on the pattern of the IPL, Shoaib maintained:
“Seventy-year-old people can’t organise the PPL. The PCB should hire services of foreign consultants instead of aged people for hosting a successful event, if it really wants to organise the PPL.”
When asked if he will be making a return to international cricket, the former paceman stated: “The decision of my retirement is final and I won’t be making any comeback.”
Regarding banned paceman Mohammad Aamir, he reckoned that Aamir should be given a chance to make a comeback, since he has already been punished.
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On DawnNews
Comments (38) Closed
Jul 20, 2012 04:19pm
I had made a comment similar to Shoaib's when Zaka Ashraf had just started his tenure and had vowed to bring international cricket to Pakistan. A gazillion people branded me a traitor...
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Jul 20, 2012 03:19pm
This guy and an attention hog. He will always say controversial things to get attention.
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Jul 20, 2012 07:14pm
finally someone speaking sense, instead of alleging that the world is conspiring against Pakistan.
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Jul 20, 2012 05:15pm
I completely agree with this legendary icon. It would be the biggest mistake to hold an international tournament when the country is going through such turbulence.
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Jul 20, 2012 01:43pm
I totally agree with Shoaib. Even Pakistanis living in Pakistan don't feel safe in their own country. I don't understand why Pakistani government and PCB are so adamant to invite foreign cricket teams to Pakistan. First priority should be to improve the law and order situation in Pakistan then foreign teams will have no problem coming to Pakistan as they used to do in the past when situation was better in Pakistan.
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Jul 20, 2012 01:22pm
Fair comment really (Im only saying about international cricket)...If god forbid it happens again then we should forget it forever. However, if we get things under control and then bring internationals here would be smart. On his other comment, i dont know why we always look abroad n not feel confident in our own abilities. Is the only way to succeed is to hire some scanly clad girls jumping up n down on loud music ? with some blonde looking people clapping?? why cant we be different and organise an event purely based on Pakistani culture. Whats wrong with some bhangra each time a 6 is hit ???
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Jul 20, 2012 01:37pm
BRVO SHOAIB A very BOLD statement , being living there. Thanks my friend.
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Jul 21, 2012 10:15am
i agree with shoaib bhai!!!
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Jul 20, 2012 11:38am
Agree with the greatest and fastest bowler.
Imagine if something happens to a foreign player! Pakistan might be out from the international cricket for many many years to come.
These difficult days come to the nation - let's wait till the fight against the terrorism is finished.
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Jul 20, 2012 10:43am
Totally agree with him. Anyone rational would say this.
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Jul 20, 2012 11:35am
The PCB had promised the Sri Lankans "presidential level security." We all saw what happened -- several of the police officers who were supposed to be on duty did not even turn up! An enquiry was held -- several years after the event the results have not been published. NONE of the officers involved has been punished. With this level of irresponsibility and unaccountability; why should anyone take the latest protestations of the PCB regarding security seriously?
I have no time for Shoaib's behaviour and attitude generally. In the present case, however, he is right. One more attack on a foreign team, and Pakistan can forget about hosting any international event for the next 20 years. Until this matter of failed security for the brave Sri Lankans is cleared up, no foreign team should visit Pakistan.
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Jul 20, 2012 11:34am
bulls eye shoaib.
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Jul 20, 2012 11:32am
Even if u invite teams to come and play, do u think anyone will listen and accept it?
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Jul 20, 2012 12:44pm
I suppose i seconded your comment :)
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Jul 20, 2012 12:44pm
No foreign team should consider touring Pakistan. Have n't we learnt any lesson from attack on Sri Lanka's team ? The attackers have not been caught as yet. There is total break down of law & order in the country. Why put foreigners to the risk ?
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Jul 20, 2012 11:44am
I think Pakistan has expertise and talents for each and every field. The need is we should select the honest and right person for the specific job as per the requirments of the job.Now is the time we should trust our talented professionals instead of looking for foreginers. Mohshin Khan has proved this in coaching.Javed Miandad has proved as a coach as well as batting cunsultant.It is piety that we are not paying them the money as compare to foreginers.Mohashin was paid 2 Lakhs while Dev whatmore is getting 15 Lakhs and other benefits.We have persones to handle Managing, marketing the events.It is need to let them work without interference.
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Jul 20, 2012 01:55pm
the thing i admire about this guy, he seems to be one of those guys who didnt sell Pakistan cricket, yeah he is brat, maybe even a sore looser, but then with his talent he could have sold himself to the highest bidder and in the process disgraced Pakistan further.
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Jul 20, 2012 11:52am
Noor, here what is being discussed is Cricket in Pakistan and not Shoaib Akhtar cuz he is long gone. And the solution for Pakistan Cricket as well as Pakistan's problems is to hold matches and other constructive events to show the world that this is a safe country. This need to be involved the entire nation's efforts (which includes positive attitude) and retired cricketers like Shoaib should be kept out of this as he proved to be undisciplined throughout his career and now trying to tell the world what Pakistan's enemy lobby is already doing.
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Jul 20, 2012 11:51am
Our 'national interest' should mean peace and security for the people of Pakistan not hosting foreign teams whose security we can't even guarantee.
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Jul 20, 2012 07:39am
totally agreed.
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Jul 20, 2012 07:44am
The foreign coach couldn't coach him ... a failed person with no sportsman spirit advising not to hold PPL. What experience does he have in managing the sports events who is not able to manage his conduct as a sportsman? PPL will be a League of Pakistan and its people who earnestly want to improve Pakistan's image internationally therefore a collective effort will be required rather than advise of retired players who has been getting his book published for cheap publicity in India.
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Jul 20, 2012 07:52am
Smartest thing anyone has said in a long time. From the outside, Pakistan looks like its in a low intensity civil war. If anyone doesn't see it's the Pakistani government and the PCB.
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Jul 20, 2012 07:57am
Why did the administrator delete my comment??? Just because I am agreeing with all suggestions of Shoaib? Sad
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Jul 20, 2012 08:32am
Completely agree with Shoaib. I know most Pakistanis want international events in Pakistan, however, first we must pay for the security lapse in Sri Lankan team's visit, and secondly wait for the security situation in Pakistan to improve.
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Jul 20, 2012 08:37am
I dont usually agree with this mans views, but this time i totally agree with him!
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Jul 20, 2012 09:20am
great thinking pindi express
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Jul 20, 2012 09:29am
i totally disagree.in such a case it means we are never going to hold an international series in our country. we are not at all sure about when is this so called civil war is going to end. so waiting for that is like never having a tornament here. we could certainly provide much more security to the visiting guests now consider back then when sirilankans were here, we didnt expect an attack on them. i appreciate the tireless efforts of PCB without having support of any, and i wish that we hold an international series on our home ground. in fact changes likes this would certainly be more helpful in regaining trust on out ability to honor and proivde security to our guests.
P.s: shoaib, i have been a huge fan of yours, but this time you are wrong. you should be more responsible in giving statements specially which are sensitive towards are national ineterest.
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Jul 20, 2012 09:37am
if you are not part of solution then you are part of problem, same goes for Shoaib.......
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Jul 20, 2012 06:13pm
Once a man was beating his son. His neighbor came and asked "why you are beating him".
He said "tomorrow his result is coming".
Neighbour, "Then why you are beating him today".
Man "Because I am going out of town tonight".
Same will be the story of PCB, if they invite anyone. No harm in trying, but eventually PCB and whole Pakistan will get humiliated when the invitee will Deny. PCB should think when Bangladesh cannot visit Pakistan, will any country do?
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Jul 20, 2012 08:04pm
Well said Shoaib, because of your proper understanding of things....you could not continue with them.....
Legends are born not made
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Jul 20, 2012 09:10pm
This a real truth of the prevailing law and order situation in Pakistan. Pakistan's own citizen are not safe how the PCB can invite out sider to play in Pakistan, I fully agree with Rawalpindi Express.
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Jul 20, 2012 09:34pm
Sounds like an attack on the person rather than his point of view.
Also sounds like wishful thinking and a one upmanship with India - that PPL will bring glory to the country - regardless of the ground realities regarding internal security.
I don't know quite what to say!
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Jul 20, 2012 11:11pm
How can that bring international sporting events to Pakistan?
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Jul 21, 2012 05:15am
ya this is true
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Jul 21, 2012 07:34am
Shoaib is frank and straight forward person. We must first put our house in order only then we must ask other countries to come and play in here. We are facing terror day in and day out. No one will come here until peace returns to our land.
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Jul 21, 2012 08:44am
I have great regard for Pakistan and its people as we were are all part of same culture. The most unfortunate part is that Pak did not have good governance right from independance resulting in a deplete economy while its neighbour progressed steadily despite shortcomings. Unfortunately, Pak is too much obsessed by India and the so called Kashmir issue that it sidelined its economy. It encouraged insurgants and encouraged terrorism to checkmate India in a bid to teach a lessons fot the humblings of 1948, 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war. Shoab, therefore has rightly pointed out that the first priority is to set Pak in order. Srcondly, another reader has also pointed out that even if Pak invites foriegn team, will the invitation be accepted?
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Jul 21, 2012 09:22am
Do you except we have a inhouse security problem? If "NO" than your point of view is correct !!! and if yes than let us correct this first
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Jul 31, 2012 05:37pm
world fastest bowler shoaib akter whose speed was 100.64 mph. we will miss him in ind vs pak tour in 2012 december.
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