SOURCE : TIMES NOW
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has time and again branded Pakistan a safe country for international cricket. While some teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have started to tour Pakistan for international cricket, PCB’s claims suffered a big setback on Friday when a cricket match had to be abandoned after some terrorists opened fire at players, spectators at Kohat Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
As per a report in The Daily Star, a large number of people had turned up to watch the match despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the final of the Amn Cricket tournament at the Dradar Mamazai area in Ismailzai tehsil in the upper part of Orakzai district.
Media, political workers were also present at the venue to see some live cricketing action. All of them, however, had to run for their lives after some terrorists opened fire from a nearby hill.
“No sooner had the match started the terrorists opened indiscriminate firing on the playground from the nearby hills. The players, spectators and journalists saved their lives by fleeing the scene,” a witness said.
It has been reported that no loss of life took place in the shooting. Be it the players, officials, media personnel, spectators or staff, all managed to flee the scene successfully.
Orakzai District Police Officer Nisar Ahmad Khan admitted that they had some information about terrorists in the area and have now launched a joint operation with Orakzai Scouts to track down those behind the activity.
The PCB had recently asked the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to tour Pakistan for an international series after it sent the senior team to England for 3 Tests and as many T20Is amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the England cricket team coach has claimed to have no reservations over playing cricket in Pakistan, the latest terrorist activity might force him to reevaluate his stance.
