The cricket fraternity was first appalled by the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team but relieved that there were no serious casualties. If those terrorists who execute the deadly plans of their masters might themselves be dull, it is because of indoctrination which has made them follow instructions blindly. Hence the Sri Lankan players escaped as the bus was targeted and not individual players, notably the skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Muthiah Muralitharan.
The question that is not being answered for the moment is: who targeted the cricketers? That will need a through probe and knowing the Pakistan government there would be any amount of deviousness in the process. If permitted the Pakistan government would like to say that the LTTE or Indian intelligence was behind the attack. But that the world knows is not the case.
There are wheels within wheels. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stated that no country in the world can be deemed safe henceforth from terrorist attacks. And if the motive is to be in the news and in the process make a point or two, then the glamorous and the popular would be targeted. This seems to be something the film stars and the cricketers would do well to understand.
The Indian government seems to have already thrown up its hands by stating that all terrorism emanates from Pakistan and Afghanistan, and till the former does something about it, no other country can. Pakistan abhors the idea that it is regarded as a rogue state, but then its track record has been less than satisfactory. Prevarication seems to be the government’s policy and under the present president, Asif Ali Zardari, there is no little law and order. It might not come as a surprise if people in the country prefer both military and Shariat rule, for then at least the safety of their lives is assured. The last president, General Pervez Musharraf, must be having a quiet laugh in forced retirement.
It is apparent that no international team will want to tour Pakistan and that too for a long time to come. And this means Pakistan teams would not be welcome, as the exchange of tours is done on a reciprocal basis. So one wonders what the future holds for cricket in this country. One understands that every Pakistani is not a potential terrorist. However, the security aspect of cricket tours anywhere would have to be given top priority. And this means cricket will no more be a pleasure to watch with gunmen in the grounds of the world.
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