FICA urges overseas players not to play PSL final in Lahore
According to FICA, level of risk in Pakistan remains "at an extremely elevated state."
(Dunya News/ Web Desk) – The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has suggested the overseas players in a report to decline participating in the second edition final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) that will be held in Lahore.
According to FICA, level of risk in Pakistan remains "at an extremely elevated state" and that "an acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed."
Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially verified to conduct PSL final of second edition in Lahore after taking the decision in a governing board session held in Karachi.
According to PCB spokesperson, the final will be held on March 7 and if overseas players do not agree to play in Lahore due to security concerns then new drafting will be held in last week of February to select local players or those who are ready to play in Pakistan.
The league matches of second edition of PSL are scheduled to be played in Dubai and Sharjah from February 9 this year.
The spokesman of PCB also said that the board has taken all the precautionary measures including four bulletproof buses and best air travel for players for final in Lahore.
But the latest FICA report may reduce the chances of participation of overseas players. Although FICA does not have the power to stop players from participating in PSL final, but this report might influence some governing bodies not to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) to players as FICA has warned the players to “check their insurance coverage" with a hint that it could be invalidated by travelling to Pakistan.
FICA says its report is based upon "updated security advice we have received" from its "expert security consultants."
It states, "Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist attacks across the country and Westerners have in the past been directly targeted and killed in Pakistan. Indiscriminate and targeted attacks are likely to continue, and expert advice is consistent with all Government Agencies and Diplomatic Missions, who generally advise to reconsider the need to travel."
"There have been attacks at sporting events, which have had significant security overlay in the past, and terrorist groups in Pakistan have demonstrated the intent and capability to launch attacks anywhere in the country. Locations including luxury hotels are also at high risk of being targeted by militant groups.
"The historic use of suicide bombers, the willingness of terrorist groups to attack armed police and police protected sporting events, the capability of such groups and the intent, suggests that the risk associated with the running of an international sporting event are problematic at present.
"Whilst the opportunity for attack on international sporting events and competitors in Pakistan can be mitigated to a certain extent by the implementation of an extremely robust security plan, the current advice is that external security environmental factors keep the risk level in Pakistan at an extremely elevated state, where an acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed, even with an extremely robust security plan." The report concludes: "Players participating in this event do so as individuals and at their own risk."
