5 tours affected by security concerns

Security issues have hurt sport multiple times and cricket is no exception. With individuals and the respective cricket boards prioritising safety over sport – and understandably so – numerous tours have been affected, including high-profile and global tournaments. Most famously, the ICC Champions Trophy 2008, originally scheduled for Pakistan, was shifted to South Africa the following year while the 2011 World Cup, where Pakistan were the co-hosts, was also hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh only, who were also handed over the hosting rights initially.

Sportskeeda revisits some of the tours or tournaments which were interrupted by the harshness of either political turmoil or terrorism.

#5 2003 World Cup: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya

Cricket’s biggest tournament had made its way to the African continent for the first time in 28 years of its history, jointly given to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. However, the global event also found its way into unwanted news when England refused to play their match against Zimbabwe in Harare. What prompted that decision from the visitors was the repeated social unrest and even death threats, with one organization even threatening them with words like, “Come to Harare and you will die”.

At the same time, New Zealand did not travel to the Kenyan capital Nairobi to play the hosts, citing terror threats. Both matches were walkover victories for the respective host nations, with Kenya eventually making it to the semi-final of the tournament, where they lost to India.

#4 England's tour of India 2008

The England team returned to play the two Tests in India following terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, which had led them to cancel the last two ODIs

The visiting England team left for home mid-way through their tour of India in late 2008 after terrorists opened fire at Mumbai’s grand Taj hotel. With the series initially consisting of 7 ODIs and 2 Tests, England flew back having completed only the first five matches of the one-day series. They returned home with the remaining two ODIs cancelled, while both the 2 Tests were rescheduled – the first one was shifted from Ahmedabad to Chennai, while the other was given to Mohali in place of Mumbai.

Even the England Performance Squad based in Bangalore, comprising names like Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Monty Panesar, were immediately called back home. However, the Tests did go ahead peacefully at the new venues with India taking the series 1-0.

#3 Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan 2009

Thilan Samaraweera, who had a bullet removed from his thigh, was one of several persons to be injured in the Lahore bus attack in 2009

The most brutal day in the history of the sport came in March 2009 when the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The tourists were on their way to the ground to start the third day’s play when the horrendous attack injured seven Sri Lankans while six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were shot dead.

The driver of the minivan carrying the match officials – all umpires and the match referee, among others – was also killed, with Thilan Samaraweera even requiring surgery to remove a bullet from his left thigh, having being urgently flown back home from Lahore. Since then, Pakistan have informally adopted the UAE as their home ground, with all major cricket taking place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

#2 Australia's tour of Bangladesh 2015

Australia's tour of Bangladesh eventually took place in 2017 after the series in 2015 was cancelled by the visitors, who cited security threats

In October 2015, Australia cancelled their scheduled tour of Bangladesh sensing insecurity in the nation. On receiving warnings from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), who informed of a possible security threat, Cricket Australia had decided against allowing the players to travel to Bangladesh. In fact, after the tour was cancelled, the governments of USA, the UK and Canada also brought to the notice of their citizens possible attacks in the country.

What was worse, an Italian aid worker was shot dead in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka at the same time. However, the tour did take place in 2017, with both Test matches held amidst tight vigil from the host board. Bangladesh even went on to defeat Australia in a Test match for the first time as the visitors extracted revenge in the second game to share the series 1-1.

#1 Under-19 World Cup, Bangladesh 2016

Ireland replaced Australia after they refused to play in the U-19 World Cup 2016 hosted by Bangladesh

The most eagerly-awaited event in junior cricket, the Under-19 World Cup, in January 2016 was also given to Bangladesh; and like what had happened three months previously, Australia did not take part. Not convinced that the security had been beefed up, Cricket Australia once again followed its government’s advice and chose not to risk its players’ and team management’s lives to participate in a high profile tournament.

James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, had “regrettably” added that “there is a high threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh” and following all the advice and warnings, “we feel we had no alternative other than to make this difficult decision”. Thus, the ICC gave Associate side Ireland, who were the runners-up in the qualifying tournament, a place in the World Cup.