The Broader perspective

The unprecedented terrorist attack on a cricket team in Pakistan has prompted an equally outspoken response from the ICC Test Match referee, Chris Broad, who returned from the cancelled Test Series fuming at the lack of "top level" security promised by the Pakistanis towards the visiting Sri Lankan team and the match officials. It's a sad and inevitable reflection of the climate in that country at the moment that the terrorists were allowed to just walk away and disappear without the authorities being able to track them down. It may be the last international sporting event in Pakistan for some considerable time.

In the war of words however, the Pakistan Cricket Board have spoken out against Mr. Broad's criticisms: six policemen have been killed in the ongoing battle, and "top level" security can only go so far when a war zone is suddenly involved, as was the case near the Gadaffi Stadium (unfortunately but appropriately named) in Lahore.

I can't help wondering if history still rankles with the PCB; back in 1987, during the controversial England tour of Pakistan (when Mike Gatting came to blows with umpire Shakoor Rana), Chris Broad refused to leave the crease after being "dismissed" by the Pakistani umpire during the First Test that troubled autumn - at the Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore.