R Krishna Das
All-rounder-cricketer-turned-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan did not realise the ball he was bowling to Taliban was a “full toss” that would facilitate the militant government in Afghanistan to hit beyond the boundaries.
Pakistan claimed with much fanfare that it played an important role in the Taliban takeover and formation of the government that has many militants banned in different international forums. Even the relief materials sent to Afghanistan was widely publicised. Now, Pakistan had started paying the cost; New Zealand cricket team opting out to play in Pakistan being the first in the series.
The Black Caps devastated Pakistan’s cricket fraternity after cancelling the tour of Pakistan minutes before the first ODI was to be played. They cited a ‘security threat’ as the reason without divulging any further. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is furious as the development has not only come as a big humiliation in the global sports map but has inflicted a huge financial loss that will be hard to compensate in near future.
Though the New Zealand authorities have not elaborated the threat perception, it is crystal clear that Pakistan’s proximity with Taliban has been the main reason. The New Zealand government had received concrete inputs from different intelligence agencies threatening the security of Kiwis especially at a time Taliban backed militants had been daringly attacking Pakistani forces on the border.
Sources told News Riveting that the New Zealand Cricket Board tried to convince the government but it was in no mood to entertain as the inputs were unambiguous. After all, New Zealand was one of the partners of United States in the Afghan war that lasted for two decades. After the Taliban started advancing towards Kabul, the New Zealand government had sent a special troop to Afghanistan to evacuate its citizens and Afghans who worked for them.
The government was having the definite information that its team was under serious threat in Pakistan. New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White has said that he had “no option” but abandon the tour of Pakistan after receiving advice from the New Zealand government of a ‘specific, credible threat’.
The New Zealand team was touring Pakistan after 18 years. The PCB was now worried as England cricket team was scheduled to tour next month. The England Cricket Board had not finalised the tour and would definitely consider the Black Caps’ angle before taking a final call. The cancellation of tour has underlined that Pakistan government cannot be trusted.
While “bowling” to Taliban, Imran Khan ignored that his new friend did not like sports, not even cricket!
