Wednesday, September 26, 2001
I don't think anyone can blame New Zealand for cancelling the tour of Pakistan. The ICC is receiving lots of criticism here, but it should not be blamed either. But ICC does have to tackle what to do when a series falls through. Countries must be obliged to reorganise any cancelled series, because the financial losses can be huge – as Pakistan are discovering. Penalties (fines and points) would help too.

Sadly, I cannot imagine that any team would want to tour here at the moment. And they would be right. Anything can happen in this political environment and most foreigners have already left Pakistan after advice from their embassies. Pakistan's cricket coach, Richard Pybus, left as soon as the troubles began.

The South Asian Federation games, our regional version of the Olympics, were to start soon in Pakistan but they have been postponed. Hockey's Champions Trophy has also been moved. Pakistanis are not much worried about these cancellations and postponements though – we are more concerned about what might happen when the bombs start landing.

Nobody here is thinking about cricket except the Pakistan Cricket Board, which is trying to recoup its losses. I understand that there is a possibility of Sri Lanka touring for a short one-day series in October, but I cannot see that happening.

A joint Pakistani and Indian team did play in Sri Lanka at the start of the 1996 World Cup, after Australia and West Indies refused to go because of terrorism, but that was a completely different situation. The Sri Lankan authorities only had to be concerned with internal security. The current crisis is way beyond the control of the Pakistan government.

Javed Miandad, Pakistan's biggest run-scorer and subsequently their coach, was talking to Kamran Abbasi. His column appears every Wednesday.

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