Ever since the tumultuous events of 9/11, Pakistan has been a frontline state in the global war on terror. That has had many fall-outs, among them sport being hit because of foreign teams hesitate to visit in what they perceive as the war zone. Every foreign team refused to come over to Pakistan for playing and cricket being the main sport of the country was the prime target. Since 9/11 several bilateral series took place but not at home. They were the home series away from home. The West Indies was beaten at Sharjah and Australia demolished us in Sri Lanka and Sharjah. Several other series and tournaments that were to take place in Pakistan were cancelled. The situation further aggravated when a bomb blast outside the New Zealand cricket team hotel in Karachi killed and injured several people in May 2002.

But after a brief lull, the PCB managed to convince foreign teams like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand and above all India to tour Pakistan. And in the latter’s case the series was revived nearly after 14 years and was a success in every sense apart from the Pakistan team’s getting beaten in both Test and one-day rubbers for the first time ever at home against the arch rivals. But Pakistan returned the compliment early this year when they visited India, though not fully by drawing the Test rubber and winning the limited-overs segment.

Things started to become normal after that series and everyone was looking forward to the England series when suddenly the Poms started to fret about coming over. The same old bogey of security threat in Pakistan the cancellation of the tour and the key players missing the series etc started doing the rounds. At the very outset, the PCB Chairman, Sharharyar M. Khan – then in England for the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting – engaged the England and Wales Cricket Board officials.

While everyone here was feeling the uneasy because of the fuss, the English players were giving clear signs of reluctance. The PCB, fearing a harsh response because Pakistan is to take the return tour to England next year and the itinerary was yet to be finalized, could see the implications of not fulfilling its commitment.

They sent in their security and facilities inspection delegation to Pakistan, especially those in Karachi. Then, the ECB raised doubts about Multan as a venue. Having already reluctantly accepted that there would be no Test at Karachi and also scrapping the one-dayer at Peshawar, the PCB refused to budge on Multan.

The unfortunate tube bombing in July in London also help clear the cobwebs by making it evident that Pakistan was not the only unsafe place in this world. In the aftermath of the London bombings when Italian football club Inter Milan cancelled its trip to England, there was a feeling that it was tantamount to giving in to the terrorists.

Ironically, this was an argument that the Pakistani sporting establishment, including the PCB, had presented all along but the West Indians, the Australians and others had refused to be convinced. When the risk arrived home, suddenly the ECB and the England players both saw the merit in that assertion.

At long last on July 28, after realizing the situation and the watertight security promised to the England players, their fans. It was a triumph of Shaharyar Khan’s diplomacy that England formally confirmed the tour dates.

And now everyone is looking ahead to the tour that begins with a side match at Rawalpindi on October 31 after England arrive in Pakistan on October 26.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Pakistan Cricket Board)