The ICC said yesterday it could not guarantee the safety of cricketers anywhere in the world as the former England captain Kevin Pietersen admitted he was having doubts about his participation in the Indian Premier League next month.
When asked if the ICC was unable to ensure player security at the 2011 World Cup, where games are scheduled to take place in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "That would be the attitude to any event anywhere in the world."
Lorgat confirmed that the ICC will, in due course, be issuing a more extensive response to last week's attack in Lahore. "We are all aware of how that is likely to change the landscape on security assessments going forward and the kind of threat we might face, not just in cricket but in all sports," Lorgat said. "That's because, in my view, that is a barrier that has been breached and once you cross over something of that sort, I think things will change forever. We will respond in a manner that will be responsible and proper."
Lorgat said the Australian umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis, who along with the English referee Chris Broad were critical of the Pakistani security forces, needed time "to be more rational" about the Lahore attack. "I am mindful of the experience they have gone through and it is a difficult time for them," he said.
Pietersen has admitted he could pull out of the IPL if security experts warn him against playing and will make his decision following the conclusion of the fifth Test against West Indies after he consults with the Bangalore Royal Challengers, who paid $1.55m (£1.1m) to secure his services.
"If I don't think it's right then I'll not be going," he said. "Hopefully the security will come right for India but if everybody pulls out of the IPL then it would be a disaster, a catastrophe, and world cricket would really be on a down."
Pietersen added that he thought it unlikely that tours of Pakistan will take place in the near future, despite reassurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board president, Ijaz Butt.
"I think at the moment it is unlikely people will be comfortable travelling there," said Pietersen. "It is very, very sad – I feel sorry for the Pakistan cricketers. I feel sorry for everybody in Pakistan."
Butt believes, however, that an international team could tour Pakistan within months and is confident the PCB will be able to co-host the World Cup in 2011.
"I would expect that teams will tour here again as soon as possible. I would give it six to nine months to get things organised. I would want us to get security to a level that would be a guarantee from my government that no such incident like this could happen again, or I will not invite anybody. I cannot give that guarantee, but my government can."
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