These are critical times for Pakistan. The PCB has not hid its feelings about its ICL players, going all out to support them during their final match in the ICL matches. But now as ICL players fear that the terror strikes will hit their trade with India, the PCB is unsure of the best next move.
Lots of heated words were exchanged in the aftermath of the terror strikes in Mumbai as also with India’s decision not to tour Pakistan. However, the reality has hit hard as players are now realizing that they may not get to go to India after all, putting their allegiance to the rebel league in jeopardy as well as in their move to come back into the official fold.
The Pakistan players affiliated with the ICL have been pressuring the Pakistan Cricket Board to take them back in order to enable them to place first class domestic cricket. However, the PCB has refrained itself from any such move and instead chose to discreetly with their players well and congratulating them on their success when the Lahore Badshahs beat the Hyderabad Heroes.
Now players such as Abdul Razzaq fear the uncertainty over their future, as India and Pakistan are not in a mood to engage in trade or in cricket. “At the moment the government is not permitting sportsmen or artists to go to India because of the rising tensions with India. I don’t think we will be able to play in the ICL this year.”
He also stated that the ICL, which besides that Lahore Badshahs team that comprises Pakistan players also hosts a World Series event that features Pakistan as a separate team, will not be able to host its Pakistan entities unless perhaps it stages the event outside of India.
But his anger is not just directed towards the deadlock between the two countries. He ascribed the PCB has bowing down the BCCI’s demands and not recognising the ICL players because the ICC has categorically stated that banning the players was a move undertaken by each board and not officially handed down by the ICC. “The truth is our board is helpless and incapable of makings its own decision in front of the Indian board which is totally against the ICL and is punishing all players associated with it.”
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