da apostebet： Cricket authorities in Sharjah have given assurances that the CricketersBenefit Fund Series (CBFS) is going ahead with the planned tri-seriesstarting on 26 October despite the heightened political tension in theregion after US attacks on
Charlie Austin13-Oct-2001Cricket authorities in Sharjah have given assurances that the CricketersBenefit Fund Series (CBFS) is going ahead with the planned tri-seriesstarting on 26 October despite the heightened political tension in theregion after US attacks on Afganistan.”There’s no problem about that,” CBFS chairman Abulrehman Bukhatir told GulfNews. “All the necessary arrangements have been made.” Sri Lanka, Pakistanand Zimbabwe are due to compete in the 10-day tournament.There had been mounting doubts that the tournament would go-ahead afterAmerica started an aerial bombardment of Afganistan earlier this week andwith growing Muslim protests throughout the world.The Sri Lankan and Zimbabwean boards had remained tight-lipped on thesituation, saying that they not been contacted by the CBFS. A Karachi basednewspaper then quoted a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official as saying:”The holding of the tournament is in serious doubt.” The PCB quickly deniedthat this was the “official view” of the board.In fact, the PCB are seriously considering playing their home matches inSharjah or at a recently developed venue in Morocco after an invitation fromButhaktir and a statement ICC president Malcolm Gray on Monday that: “It’spossible Pakistan’s home matches could be played at independent venues.”Sharjah Stadium, if there were no political disturbances, would be an idealvenue, with its proximity to Pakistan and the existence of a sizablePakistani expatriate community. Political disruption seems unlikely afterthe reluctance of the region to provide the US with military assistance intheir fight against terrorism.The 2001 UIM Formula One World Championship, a power boating grand prix, wascompleted yesterday in Sharjah without alarm. Only one Italian driver pulledout of the event.