Multan region's assistant coach Nadeem Iqbal discusses the Lahore attacks with PakPassion.Net

by Pakpassion Staff (8th March 2009)

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.Net, Nadeem Iqbal the assistant coach of the Multan region strongly condemned the attacks. He first learnt about them on the news and like the rest of us he was horrified by the scenes unfolding on the screen.

Iqbal said that there was no way that the attackers should've gotten as close to the bus as they did, he feels that there needs to be a serious and thorough investigation into the security provided for this tour. He wanted to pass on his wishes to the fallen officers and their families as well as his regret to the players and officials who had to go through the attack.

Iqbal fears that the attacks could isolate Pakistan cricket even more than it already has been and that there needs to be some serious introspection about how best to move forward from here. At this stage he felt that the 2011 World Cup was in danger of being taken away unless there was a drastic change in the ground reality.

Most of all he was touched by the way that the Sri Lankans handled themselves throughout. Iqbal said that the Sri Lankans had been under pressure from various external influences to not go through with the tour but had come to Pakistan anyway. That had made the attacks even worse because the victims were here to show solidarity.

Iqbal went on to say that he would never forget (and neither should all of Pakistan) the fact that the Sri Lankans vowed to return to Pakistan straight after the attacks. He was glad Pakistan has friends like Sri Lanka but stressed that the security procedures need to be reviewed and improved if cricket is to return to Pakistan.