The first cricket Test between New Zealand and Pakistan is expected tobe shifted from Peshawar in the wake of a likely US attack onAfghanistan

13-Sep-2001The first cricket Test between New Zealand and Pakistan is expected tobe shifted from Peshawar in the wake of a likely US attack onAfghanistan.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to speculate on the change invenue, but a decision on the issue would be finalized in the next 48hours or maybe next week.Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium has been put on as stand-bye venue for thefirst Test which is to be played between Oct 2 and 6.The Kabul border is little over 50km drive from Peshawar and has beenan attractive tourists spot for all the visiting teams because of thehistoric Khyber Pass. The security aware Australians had spent a dayon the Kabul border when they last toured in 1998.However, the visit had ended in stern warnings by the AustralianCricket Board (PCB) to two of its players and manager Steve Bernardafter a foreign news agency released photographs showing thecricketers using sophisticated, modern and automatic guns on ashooting range.The drawn second Test of that tour in Peshawar is remembered for MarkTaylor’s 334 not out and also for the banner headline a localnewspaper gave on the day of the first Test. “Australian begin Testunder the shadow of gun” read the caption of match’s curtain raiser.Unconfirmed reports claim that the PCB officials discussed about thechange of first Test venue with New Zealand officials and assured themthat their demands would be accommodated if alarm bells rang inAfghanistan.United Nations and US have already started evacuating its people fromKabul but leading print and electronic news agencies have begundeploying its people to cover the anticipated attack. However it islearnt that the PCB were mentally prepared for the cancellation of thetour because of security fears.In the last 17 years, two tours have ended prematurely. In 1984-85,India had aborted the tour after Indra Gandhi was assassinated whilein 1990-91, England A returned without playing a match after Gulf Warbroke.Needless to say that New Zealand have already delayed their arrival inPakistan for at least 48 hours as they are said to be monitoringsituation.Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former Test cricketers urged New Zealand to goahead with the tour during which the tourists will play three Testsand as many one-day internationals.Former chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmad said: “Pakistan has avery safe history as far as cricketers are concerned. Never ever aforeign player or the team has been threatened in this part of theworld.”He said Pakistan had nothing to do with whatever happened in UnitedStates. “If New Zealand cricketers didn’t show any concerns in SriLanka when Colombo airport was attacked by Tamil Tigers, they have noreason to be scared about playing here.”Former captain Intikhab Alam felt after Pakistan has assured fullsecurity for the tourists, New Zealand should trust the hosts. “I amsure New Zealand cricketers are aware of the hospitality, respect,protocol and security they have got on their previous tours. This timeit will certainly be no different,” he said.”Cricket shouldn’t suffer because of something which has nothing to dowith either Pakistan or New Zealand,” he added.