One of the significant issues Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been fire-fighting with of-late is the issues related to the security of foreign players.
Security of cricketers in Pakistan was blown into pieces due to two major incidents which led to the global boycott of boards allowing its players touring the country.
The first incident came into light during the 2002 New Zealand tour of Pakistan, while the other occurred in 2009 Sri Lankan tour.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq should have remembered the Test series due to his mammoth knock of 329 which came during the first Test at Lahore. But now, Inzy recalled the series for the ill-fated Karachi bomb blast.
During a recent interaction, Inzamam reminisced about the Kiwi players crying in the swimming pool after the bomb blasts.
“When we went to Karachi, there was a bomb blast. The blast happened after the 1st Test match in Lahore. Thanks to God that no player got injured. It was a horror full day. My room was on the side where the bomb blast happened. The mirrors from one side of my room broke and flew to the other side of wall. It happened with every room on that side of the hotel. I ran downstairs, and when I reached there, I saw New Zealand players crying in the swimming pool,” recalled Inzy.
“I watched that the mirrors and the curtains have come off but still asked the policeman about what just happened. He said it’s a bomb blast and asked me to go downstairs. The New Zealand team went back home that day, and even our players could not sleep for at least one week,” added Inzamam.
Despite the unfortunate incident, Inzy looked back at his marathon knock-in fond memories. He stated that he could have broken the then world record of 336 by Wally Hammond, going on to reach the 400-mark, provided there was more time at his disposal.
