Imran Khan has emphatically stated that Pakistan should not play the highly-anticipated World T-20 clash against India in Dharamsala, which is scheduled for March 19. After the hateful statements against Pakistan, and the resistance shown by Virbhandra Singh, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pardesh, the players of Pakistan team will be under a huge pressure mentally to perform in a highly unfriendly and threatening environment.
Imran Khan has a strong point. Cricket is a mind game. A hostile crowd amidst threats of violence can play havoc with the subconscious minds of the players. It will require some kind of a miracle to help Pakistan team overcome the sense of insecurity created in the minds by the irresponsible Chief Minister’s unashamed declaration that he was in no position to guarantee the safety of the players in the face of the threats of the Hindu extremists.
Even if the Security monitoring team sent by Pakistan to assess the arrangements made for the safety of the players, issues “all-clear” statement, it will be unfair to expect our players to give their hundred percent in such an environment. The team is already under great pressure because of its dismal and humiliating performance against India in Asia Cup.
Why can’t an alternative be provided by the ICC bosses?
