PCB official call Aussies "lily-livered cowards" for refusing to play in Pak

Sydney, Sept 17 (ANI): A senior PCB has called Aussies "cowards" for twice refusing to play in Pakistan citing security reasons and now going ahead with their India tour despite Saturday's blasts in New Delhi. He said the Cricket Australia (CA) had double standards when it comes to play cricket in Pakistan or India, and that it could not afford to refuse to play in India as it would have meant huge losses to them (Aussies).

"To talk simply of double standards would be to understate what we feel. My personal view is that your people are a bunch of lily-livered cowards who use one set of rules when it comes to poor Pakistan and another when it comes to India and the rich pickings to be made from the Board of Control for Cricket in India and playing in the Indian Premier League," foxsports.com.au quoted the unidentified PCB official as saying.

He added that if the Aussies go ahead on India tour and actually fly to Mumbai on Sunday, it might sue CA for huge losses the PCB suffered due to cancellation of the series and then postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Millions of dollars in compensation could be sought over Australia's failure to fulfill their playing fixtures in Pakistan, with legal advisers reportedly considering a range of options to pursue action against CA, said the report.

PCB top brass is said to be viewing Australia as Pakistan cricket's No.1 enemy. Board's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi reportedly said: "I think if Australia tour India it will only highlight their double standards on security issues. Pakistan is as safe as India and we have even promised state level security for the teams.

This incident only shows the double standards of Australian cricket. Terrorist attacks can take place anywhere, we have said constantly. No country is safer than the other and this point was highlighted after the unfortunate and sad incidents in Delhi. We find it hard to comprehend that when Australian cricketers can tour a country (India) which has had a succession of bomb attacks; what is so different about coming to Pakistan?"

Australia are due to leave for India on Sunday and one commentator said "there is simply too much money involved when it comes to India to take such a decision (to scrap the tour)".

At the height of the IPL Twenty20 competition in India this year Jaipur, a principal venue, was bombed but Australian players stayed on. Jaipur and other cities which were subject to terrorist bombings, Hyderabad and Bangalore, along with New Delhi, will be four of the six venues for Australia's tour.

"When it comes to the money, there's a completely different set of rules. Then, of course, Pakistan is a different story," the official said. (ANI)