14 Monday 9th March, 2009 Wenger raises safety fears over Terrorist attack on Sri Lankan English football by Duncan White

Arsene Wenger cricketers will not stop the IPL fears English foot- ball is a natural A magical wand will have to be target for terrorist waved by President Obama for attacks, following to be one of the four sched- the ambush of the uled hosts. ? Maybe the team in Pakistan Rifles will have ceased to mutiny. Sri last week. Lanka? The Tamil Tigers, cornered Arsene Wenger The Arsenal though they may be, still send aircraft manager is unhappy about the difficul- to bomb Colombo. And then there is the ty of securing police escorts to games question of Afghanistan... and revealed that they have had terror In South Africa, in April, alerts at the Emirates stadium. Afghanistan will be one of 12 countries "Sport has become a major, world competing for the last four places in the famous, thing, a good thing to attract World Cup. "For a part of the world attention," Wenger said. "It has hap- which has been in the news for other pened to us, where we have had alerts reasons, this is a great story," said the before games that we played at home. ICC's Global Development Manager, We kept quiet about it, as much as we Matthew Kennedy. can. I wonder about this, because in Recruiting players who had learned England you don't get any police escort the game in refugee camps in Pakistan, before games – they just refuse, espe- Afghanistan won Divisions Five, Four cially in London. It's more and more and Three of the World Cricket League difficult. We [the world of football] to reach the play-offs: they even play,on don't regard ourselves as terror targets but you wonder why not." the roughest of grounds, in the areas Unlike Manchester United, Arsenal controlled by western forces. But if do not employ private security and Afghanistan qualify for the 14-team Wenger believes it is the duty of the World Cup of 2011, and the Taliban still state to protect sporting teams. "You prefer them to wield swords not bats, rely on the internal security of the the security implications will be mas- country where you are," he said. "I sive. remember when I was in Japan I had Bindra however says that the World this problem as well because we had at Cup will go on in India, if nowhere that stage somebody [the Aum England's , left, stands with his teammates for a moment of silence in remembrance of the attack on the Sri else. "We won't jump to that conclusion, Shinrikyo cult] who had all the Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan last Tuesday, on the first day of the fifth and final cricket test match at Queen's Park Oval in but if the situation is bad, India is big machinery and they put sarin gas into enough to stage the competition. The the subway. They had already bought Port of Spain, Trinidad, Friday, March 6, 2009. (AP) IPL has 59 matches spread over eight helicopters from the Russian army by Scyld Berry et – British High Commission officials ensure presidential-style security, not franchises, the next World Cup has 49 and they wanted to spread this gas estimate at least 70 per cent – before just talk about it. But ultimately this is matches." over the whole city. They killed many leaving the civilian government with something that cannot be tackled by Doubts were expressed last week people." None of them can know what he or the remnants. There is no state educa- cricket administrators but by the glob- about the second IPL taking place. But Wenger also expressed concern she – for the Women's World Cup is tion, no health service: people are driv- al powers." , due to play that major tournaments, such as the being staged in Australia – is mourn- en into the arms of wealthy extremist Pakistan may not be given the with Andrew Flintoff for World Cup and the European Championships could be targeted. ing exactly. groups. opportunity of playing anywhere soon. Super Kings, joked that he is "going to Andy Anson, the chief executive of It could simply be the eight people It is ironic that cricket's most influ- Their tour of Bangladesh was post- wear a bulletproof jacket for future England's 2018 World Cup bid, has killed in Lahore on Tuesday when the ential administrator was born in poned last week: the ICC had a fit when journeys on team buses". All the Sri already begun taking steps to make Sri Lankan team coach was attacked. Lahore. Inderjit Singh Bindra, as a they saw the security plan as it fea- Lankans signed for the IPL will, at this sure that security concerns are a pri- Or the black armbands could mark the Sikh, had to flee the violence there at tured the Bangladesh Rifles, who have stage, go to India – Thilan ority. demise of cricket in Pakistan, which Partition, and later created the stadi- just mutinied. Pakistan's one-day Samaraweera, the most badly injured, "Security is a priority for all global has produced more than its share of um in the Indian Punjab, at Mohali, series against Australia in Abu Dhabi is not contracted – because they believe sporting events and clearly it will be a the sport's most exciting players. David where England sought refuge in in April is likely to be called off on security in India will be far tighter very important part of our technical Morgan, the International Cricket December after their Test at Mumbai security grounds. For political reasons than in Pakistan. bid," said Anson. "We are fortunate to Council president, said: "International was cancelled because of another ter- as well, the Indian government won't Among England players, Ravi have some of the world's leading cricket in Pakistan is out of the ques- rorist attack. Not only the long-term allow India to play Pakistan in bilater- Bopara, contracted with Kings XI experts in that field in this country tion for quite some time." Or, at the brains behind Indian cricket, and a al series following the Mumbai attacks. Punjab for $450,000, "still plans to play and we are seeking to involve them in worst, the country itself could disinte- commissioner of the Indian Premier The England and Wales Cricket in the IPL," according to his agent Mike this process. We are not at the budget- grate, along with cricket's latest growth League, Bindra is 'honorary adviser' to Board, even before the events in Martin of Paragon Sports. "He will nat- ing stage yet but we will give security area, Afghanistan. the International Cricket Council, a Lahore, were keen to stage some of urally listen to security advice from whatever resources that are necessary. Whatever the future, cricket lost post created specifically for him, and Pakistan's matches in England. The the PCA and the ECB as well as from The World Cup is the biggest sporting what was left of its innocence when the one of his briefs is the game's world- chairman Giles Clarke had identified his franchise, but unless this produces event on the planet and needs to have gunmen opened fire near the Gaddafi wide development. Headingley as particularly appropri- additional information, he doesn't fore- security to match the scale and size of the event." stadium and the number of security "I was reading on the internet the ate. The summer of 2010 might well see see any reason to change his current The security budget will need to be personnel who fired back, in defence of other day about the Taliban and their a few one-day internationals between plans to participate." vast. The London 2012 organisers have the Sri Lankan players and match offi- attitude to cricket," Bindra said in Pakistan and Australia, but Test Flintoff's agent would not comment, been forced to increase their budget to cials, was suspiciously few.The process Delhi yesterday. "They say that matches are not going to make money but it would be a surprise if the other £600 million for security, a figure that begun at Headingley in 1975, when pro- Muslims should use swords not bats. as Pakistan supporters in this country England players think differently. some estimated to rise to almost £1.5 testers poured oil on the pitch on the They say that cricket in Asia is like have never turned up for them. "I am 100 per cent certain the IPL billion when anti-terrorist measures fourth night of the Test against opium in China in the 19th century – a Bindra knows the game's finances will go ahead," said Bindra. "Each of are factored in. Australia, was completed last week. tool of the imperial powers. It is a very like no-one else: "In Pakistan's televi- the venues except one has already got Anson and his team will submit Nothing in cricket is sacred: every- pernicious philosophy." sion contract, if they play against clearance from the Indian government. their detailed technical bid to Fifa in thing and everyone is as vulnerable to Bindra believes that Pakistan India they receive an extra amount. If I foresee no problem." The show will go May 2010 and they will need to show violence as in ordinary life. Cricket is should not start on the very slippery they are not playing against India, they on – in India. Whatever the security sit- that their plans for ensuring safety of the most vulnerable of sports, partly slope of playing at neutral venues. don't make more than a nominal uation in the rest of Asia, too much teams and supporters is watertight. because it takes the longest time, and "That is a booby-trap and they will amount. As far as their [abandoned] money is involved for it not to. And the The logistics of securing a World Cup there can be no stability in such an cease to be a Test-playing country," he series against Sri Lanka was con- more violence there is, the more people are even more complex, with the tour- abnormal society as the present said. "How do youngsters watch and cerned, the Pakistan board was only need an escape from it. nament being spread across the whole Pakistan. learn the game if Pakistan do not play breaking even." of England. Since the 1950s, the armed services at home? Give Pakistan a chance to get So will the next World Cup be Telegraph © The Telegraph Group, have taken most of the country's budg- their act together – and they must staged in Asia two years from now? London, 2009

CHRISTCHURCH, (AP) ninth highest total by any country in - made 163 from 134 one-day international cricket. balls before retiring hurt to spur India India beat New Zealand by 58 runs India’s 18 sixes was also an innings to a 58-run win over New Zealand in record in a clash of test-playing nations Sunday’s third one-day cricket interna- and the 31 sixes was a record for all ODI. tional. “Frankly, before 2 at Hyderabad in 1999. Tendulkar reached 50 off 59 balls, a Tendulkar’s ton helped India to 392- starting I thought The score was India’s highest century off 101 balls and 150 off 127 4, and they then bowled out New 390 or 380 could have against a major cricket nation in one- balls but was clearly impeded in the lat- Zealand for 334 in a match that included been a not inappro- day internationals, having scored 413-5 ter part of his innings by what appeared 31 sixes - the most ever in a one-day priate score,” India against Bermuda in 2006. It was the to be strained abdominal muscles. international. captain Mahendra Tendulkar reached his 43rd century Singh Dhoni said. SCOREBOARD in one-day internationals and his 91st “Our century for India in all forms of the was not up to the India M. Guptill lbw b Yuvraj 1 game, before leaving the field in the 45th mark. When the ball V. Sehwag b Mills 3 J. Oram b Harbhajan 7 over with an abdominal injury. is old and not revers- S. Tendulkar retired hurt 163 G. Elliott b Zaheer 18 In reply, New Zealand’s ing it’s very difficult G. Gambhir c McGlashan b Butler 15 P. McGlashan b Zaheer 7 to bowl and scored 105, including a century from 72 Y. Singh c McGlashan b Elliott 87 I. Butler b Yuvraj 24 balls, in a 166-run opening partnership that’s the time you M.S. Dhoni c McGlashan b Mills 68 K. Mills c Harbhajan b Pathan 54 with Brendon McCullum (71) to put New have to use all your Zealand ahead of the demanding experience to bowl S. Raina 38 T. Southee c and b Kumar 32 required run rate at the start of its in the right areas.” Y. Pathan not out 1 J. Patel not out 0 innings. Tendulkar’s Extras (5lb,8w,4nb) 17 Extras (2lb,4w,2nb) 8 The openers gave New Zealand faint innings included 16 TOTAL (for four ) 392 TOTAL (all out) 334 hopes of victory, given the flat pitch and fours and five sixes Overs: 50. Overs: 45.1 or 94 runs from short boundaries, but those hopes were Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-65, 3-203, 4-382. Fall of wickets: 1-166, 2-179, 3-182, 4- all but extinguished when seven wickets boundaries and Did not bat: Z. Khan, P. Kumar, M. Patel, 188, 5-203, 6-217, 7-218, 8-251, 9-334, fell for 52 runs between the 22nd and helped India to the India’s Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his century against New 34th overs. highest total in a . 10-334. New Zealand had slumped to 251-8 in Zealand in the 3rd cricket match at AMIone-day internation- Bowling: Mills 10-0-58-2 (4w,3nb), Bowling: Khan 10-0-82-3 (1w), Kumar the 38th over before smashed Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, Sunday, March 8, 2009.al in New Zealand, Southee 10-0-105-0, Butler 5-0-37-1 (2w), 8.1-0-60-1 (1w), Patel 7.2-0-79-0 (1w,2nb), 54 from 32 balls and Tim Southee 32 (AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford) surpassing New Oram 8-1-34-0 (1w), Patel Y. Singh 9-0-54-1 (1w), Harbhajan Singh from 20 in an 83-run ninth part- Zealand’s 350 against 5-0-37-0, Ryder 5-0-56-0 (1nb), Elliott 7-0- 10-0-56-2, Y. Pathan 0.4-0-1-1. pleted over and captured Mills’ wicket, Australia. nership which briefly revived the hastening New Zealand’s dismissal for 60-1 (1w). Umpires: R. Koertzen (SA), G. Baxter, threat. Tendulkar’s score was the second- 334. highest individual total in a one-day (NZ). Seam bowler Munaf Patel was The match produced a total of 726 ordered out of the attack by the international in New Zealand, after the New Zealand Match referee: R. Madugalle (SL). runs, the second-highest aggregate in 180 of Australia’s , and J. Ryder c Zaheer b Harbhajan 105 Third umpire: E. Watkin (NZ). umpires after he bowled two high full one-day cricket internationals, eclipsed tosses in the 45th over. Off-spinner ensured India reached its highest total B. McCullum run out 71 Result: India won by 58 runs. only by the 872 runs scored by Australia against New Zealand, surpassing its 376- Yusuf Pathan bowled out Patel’s uncom- and South Africa in 2006. R. Taylor run out 7 Series: India leads 5-2.