Expatriates in major cities of the Kingdom on Tuesday expressed grief and shock over the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Terrorism has once again wreaked havoc on society, they said. Several Pakistanis Saudi Gazette spoke to sounded apologetic toward the Sri Lankan team which chose to play in Pakistan when other cricket teams refused to visit that country in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks and the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan. Some expatriates see an open conspiracy in the attacks aimed at depriving the subcontinent of the World Cup scheduled for 2011. “It is an open conspiracy against Pakistan; now they are mixing politics with sports. After this incident, no one will come to Pakistan to play,” said Jamil Rathore, a cricket administrator in Jeddah. “There are certain elements who are out to destroy the image of Pakistan. Our enemies are involved,” said Zafar Chaudhary, another cricket official in Jeddah hailing from Pakistan. Many Pakistani expatriates feared that their country might even lose its International Cricket Council (ICC's) membership. Sikandar Farouqi, President, Eastern Province Cricket Association (EPCA), said Pakistan was already on the ICC's watch list for security concerns. “I don't think Pakistan will be a venue for 2011 World Cup matches,” Farouqi, a veteran cricketer and founder of the cricket association in the Eastern Province, stated categorically. He said EPCA members, who include members from all cricket playing countries, mostly India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, strongly condemn the terror attack. He said Pakistan expatriates were more concerned about the deteriorating security situation in their country. He said Pakistanis cited the recent England tour of India, which was suspended after the Nov. 26 Mumbai terror attacks, but was resumed when England went back to India to complete the tour. The big question mark among cricket lovers was whether Pakistan can regain the confidence of the international cricketing countries and persuade them to play in the 2011 World Cup, he said. Abdul Qadir Mirza, Chairman, Riyadh Cricket League and deputy chief-executive of Saudi Cricket Council, said the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team was a big loss to Pakistan and to the millions of cricket-loving people of the country. He said the Pakistani government under President Asif Ali Zardari failed to protect the game of cricket in the country. “President Zardari should demonstrate that his government is sincere in wanting to gain back the confidence of cricket playing countries; otherwise the people of Pakistan, who are ardent fans of the sport, will not be able to watch international cricket on their home grounds,” Mirza, who also represents the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Saudi Arabia, said. Mansoor Jamshaid, a Pakistani school teacher said those behind the attack have tarnished the image of Pakistan. Abdur Rahman, a Pakistani student, said the terrorist attack was a big loss to the game of cricket and to the image of Pakistan. “The attack will have a negative impact on Pakistan, as a cricket playing country.” Sri Lankan Ambassador A.A.M. Marleen lamented the laxity in the security system of Pakistan that allowed the terrorists to attack the Sri Lankan players in Lahore. The Pakistani government should have given an armed escort to the Sri Lankan team. Instead only a few policemen were deployed to protect the players, he said. “Realizing that the players might have been in danger, the Sri Lankans were not even provided with a bullet-proof van,” Ambassador Marleen said. Umar Farooq, a Pakistani national, I.T. professional and cricket player in Al-Khobar, said the attack in Pakistan is big enough to kill the future of Pakistani cricket. “I don't think any other international cricket team will come to play in Pakistan now and that is tragic because we Pakistanis love cricket. It is a big part of our life,” Haari, a Sri Lankan Sales Executive and an avid cricket fan, described the attack as “terrible.” Gohar Shaikh, a Pakistan national and I.T. consultant in Dammam, said it was a tragic day for Pakistan. “We are very ashamed and disappointed because we love cricket and anything happening to our guests is painful to us.”
