For a change, Oz may not be scared by blasts

Fri, May 16 12:45 AM

WILL THEY, won't they? That is the question people are asking following Tuesday's serial blasts in Jaipur, the "home" city of the Jaipur IPL franchise's three Australians: Shane Warne, Shane Watson, and Darren Berry, director of coaching. Especially because the Australians have staunchly followed the policy of 'better safe than sorry' over the years.

During the 1996 World Cup, the Australian team, which also comprised Warne, declined to travel to Sri Lanka, co-hosts along with India and Pakistan, following a series of bombings in Colombo by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). They were roundly castigated for their "snub" by the sub-continental cricket officials, so much so that even Kapil Dev, a relatively non-controversial figure, calling for Australia to be expelled from world cricket.

The Australians have also not toured Pakistan since 1998. In 2002, the "paranoid Aussies", as one Pakistani official called them, threatened to cancel the Pakistan tour owing to security fears, eventually pressurising the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board to conduct the series at the neutral venues of Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Even in 2008, Cricket Australia (CA) cancelled the Pakistan tour after a suicide-bomber had claimed the life of, among others, Benazir Bhutto, former Pakistan Prime Minister. Even before CA had made up its mind on boycotting the recent tour, it was severely pressurised by Australian players who went to town declaring the potential dangers of touring Pakistan.

"I'm not interested in going into a situation that's dangerous, where people are getting killed and hurt. I'm not going to put myself in a situation where I can be harmed," Andrew Symonds had said.

So, will the Australians, playing for their franchise as opposed to the country, flinch now? Will money being an overriding factor prompt a change in stance? Yes, according to a team official. While Warne, Watson, Berry, Graeme Smith, Sohail Tanveer, Kamran Akmal, and other players were holidaying in Goa when the tragedy struck in Jaipur, they will be back 'home', latest by 16th May.

"Darren Berry called today from Goa and inquired about the well-being of the players and officials in Jaipur. "The Australians seemed apprehensive and asked about what security measures are going to be put in place following the blasts.

But, as of now, there is no question of them declining to play in Jaipur," said the team official who did not wish to be named.

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