DOTW: Double standards shown by the ICC?

Before I give my POV, I just want to say that recent events in both India and Pakistan have been very tragic and loss of life is unfortunate.

But what is a bit hard to understand is why there is so much resistance to playing in Pakistan when tragic incidents have also happened in India. It is especially double standards on the part of the Australians. Agreed that the tragic incident in Marriot Hotel in Islamabad may have shaken players but their arguments for not wanting to tour there become weak when they decide to tour to India. Also the ICC has shown its weakness in not being able to play an active role in trying to resolve the matter.

Every board has the duty to ensure that its players are safe- that's understandable and it should be that way. Ponting even said that the bombing in Islamabad shows that the decision not to tour Pakistan was the right one. But the question that can be put forward is that if India has also seen some terrible things then why are they still willing to tour there? Surely this is double standards. I'm glad Australia are touring India because I think these two teams have great competition. But it is unfair on Pakistani players and fans because they are being isolated. If this is goign to be the case then Pakistan's cricketing future has a bleak future.

To me it seems as if both the Aussies and ICC are culprits but more so the ICC. Its responsibility is also to ensure that cricket takes place and that fans enjoy the game. Therefore if players refuse to tour a particular country then clearly we are going down a slippery slope because for players to have such authority is quite dangerous. The ICC is shwoing it weakness because it is allowing the players to make decisions....so what is the purpose of the cricket council? Of course it is important to remember that players are human and fear for their lives....which is very natural. But if the tour to India has gone ahead then cricket in Pakistan should have gone ahead as well. I also read the touring teams in Pakistan get the security on the level of the prime minister or president. So hopefully they will be in safe hands.

What I feel is that the ICC have at times been very unfavourable to the Pakistan cricket board and the national team. A lot of decisions or handling of situations in the past have been dubious. And the same seems to be happening again. As for the Aussies, they have been consistent in their stubborness! But the cricket community should be fair and remember that Pakistan is an important part of the cricket sport itself because of its unpredictable nature and its talent. It should not be left isolated for long because it will damage the game in the long run.

And finally being a fan of this amazing sport, I really hope that the game itself does not get affected by double standards, unfair decisions and also political unrest (which is very important)

"But it is unfair on Pakistani players and fans because they are being isolated. If this is going to be the case then Pakistan's cricketing future has a bleak future."

I totally agree. Because of so many cancelled tours, Pakistan's Cricket is getting affected. I think they played very few international matches this year as a result.

Pakistan has produced some great players and I think it is really unfair that despite the pleas of the PCB and fans, the Aussies didn't tour Pakistan. As you said, even there actions are sort of justified as they are human. But was it justified when despite a similar sort of threat in India, they wanted to carry on with the tour.