Islamic group threaten Indian cricketers

[R W S]

This is a worrying development. The Tigers need the other test playing nations to tour in order to develop. I hope that security for visiting teams can be ensured and the tour goes ahead.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Tigers in England next year.

A radical Islamic group has given death threats to Indian cricketers if they go ahead with their tour of Bangaldesh.

Full story here

[Andy Mellon]

This is grave news indeed. Seeing how popular the Indian cricket team is to Indians, they won't take to kindly to threats of violence against them. That region of the world does not need anything to inflame tensions between Hindus and Muslims (especially India and Pakistan).

In a purely cricketing sense, this is terrible news for Bangladesh. At this time, they need to be playing as much cricket against whichever teams are available. This sort of threat has led in the past to tour cancellations in Kenya and Zimbabwe and has jeopardised tours to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh need to be playing home test matches as often as possible as this gives them the best opportunity to improve and develop. Even though tours to England, Australia etc. are key to development, until they have mastered their home conditions, it is unlikely that they can be competitive in unfamiliar surroundings. After all, even today Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan have difficulty winning in non Sub-continent conditions.

I just hope that someone sees sense and this threat does not get carried out and India are still able to tour.

[Ernest]

This is going to get worse, made worse by the ineptitude of the ICC, and Englands decisssion not to go to Zimbabwe in the World Cup because of threats, and New Zealand not going to Kenya.

I don't blame the England players for one minute, but these groups know they can play with the players fears, and puts a strain on international cricket boards the World over.

IMO it will not stop with Bangladesh!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

After all, even today Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan have difficulty winning in non Sub-continent conditions.

Pakistan have actually done much better away from home than at home in the past 5-10 years, winning in New Zealand where few teams have won, drawing in England, winning in India, etc.

In historical terms, Pakistan's all-time away Test win ratio is 43%, much better than all of South Africa, New Zealand, India or Sri Lanka, and only marginally lower than the Windies all time away win ratio of 46.6% and England's 47.5%.

I agree about India and Sri Lanka being poor away from home though; Sri Lanka's away win:loss ratio is 23%, whilst India has the lowest win:loss ratio of all the major eight countries, at 20.6%.

It is true though that historically (pre-1990s) Pakistan have been almost invincible at home, and their overall home Tests win:loss ratio of over 70% is by far the best of all countries. However in the same period the away wins have been coming fairly regularly too. We have won three of our last four Test series in England (1987, 1992, 1996), and drew the most recent one; not bad considering English conditions are totally different from what Pakistani batsmen are used to.

[Andy Mellon]

I stand corrected. To be honest, I wasn't too sure about Pakistan, but I was sure about Sri Lanka and India. I think my point still stands though.

[imaginarydiva]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

This is grave news indeed. Seeing how popular the Indian cricket team is to Indians, they won't take to kindly to threats of violence against them. That region of the world does not need anything to inflame tensions between Hindus and Muslims (especially India and Pakistan).

I agree it will have political implications;but i just cant understand the religious angle mentioned.I dont think theres any hindu-muslim conflict in the offing.Long time ago some cricketers including sauravda did receive some threats from some islamic group but it eventually subsided.I just think its upto the external ministry of India to do something abt it;and see if beefed up security will do.Or else i wont be surprised if the tour is called off;cuz we indians worship our cricketers and i dont think a risk will be taken.

[Ernest]

I would agree it is political, but this is going to be a big test for cricket, because if players are afraid to move to other countries, the conciquenses will be great.

This may seem a local thing, but the implications are wider, a lot of eyes will be looking to see how the threat goes, by all types of organisations, it needs nipping in the bud!!"But how?."

[imaginarydiva]

good wuestion altho i dunno the answer.

[Maranello]

Well the answer on how this is dealt with depends on the reality of the threat.

If it is a bonafide threat from a real organisation, which the security services believe has the wherewithal (manpower, money, weapons) to carry out its nefarious plans, then there is only one option: cancel the tour.

However, if, as is more likely, this is an amateurish prank from some lone crackpot, then beefed up security is the answer and the tour should go on. When Pakistan play in India, and vice versa, the cricketers get head of state level protection and security; it works and no incidents have thankfully been reported. This is what should be done here too; international cricket cannot be held ransome to crayon notes from organisations comprising one man and his dog. This was why England and New Zealand's security concerns during WC2003 were laughable; there are many very good reasons for not touring Zimbabwe, but the silly crayon note (or threat) from a non-existent organisation (the self-styled sons and daughters of Zimbabwe) was not one of them. NZL's decision was even more bizarre; bad things happen everywhere, but there is no evidence that Kenya is any less safe than Jo'burg, the murder capital of the world. If we give in to outlandish behavior from publicity seeklers, and get all hysterical, it will only act as an encouragement to all the crackpots and loonies who have an email address or some crayons.

I repeat, if the security services feel this threat represents a real and present danger, the tour should be called of. However, this should be a decision based on a thorough security assessment by professionals, not on mass bouts of public scare-mongering and hysteria.

[Occasional Fan]

I think the Indians' departure for Bangladesh has been delayed by a day to allow for such a security review. Either way, this sort of thing is a real nightmare for anyone to have to deal with. Sad news indeed.