If the Indian team has grave doubts about the safety parameters in Karachi, the apprehensions are genuine, judged by Karachi's poor track record. The Indian captain of the 1989 tour, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, was a victim on the Karachi cricket ground when he was targeted by a spectator who rushed on to the ground The third One Day International played in Karachi on December 20, 1989, was later abandoned with Pakistan struggling at 28 for three wickets. 

Later, commenting on arrangements in Karachi, Srikkanth was to say that in his experience, Karachi was always a troublesome centre, whether it was a Test match or One Day International. "When I was the captain of the Indian team, a spectator just rushed onto the ground in Karachi, used vile language, threatened me and almost hit me."

"It was really an awful experience for me, and I am still doing my best to forget it. Nasty experiences like this leave a scar on your memory and they take a long time to heal."

India was actually trailing by 1-0 in the series at that point of time and it could have levelled the series in Karachi.

Srikanth was to say later that "India was well on top" as Pakistan was struggling at 28 for three "with Manoj Prabhakar making swift inroads."

Manoj Prabhakar had dismissed Rameez Raja for zero (lbw), bowled Saleem Mailk for zero, (Pakistan had lost two wickets at the score of zero) and at 11, he got rid of Javed Miandad, lbw for 2. In 14.3 overs, Pakistan were reduced to 28 for 3.
Prabhakar had figures of 5-2-5-3 at that time.

Srikkanth recalled that, "Suddenly the crowd started pouring into the ground and there was total chaos with everybody running helter skelter. To our dismay, the match was abandoned. We would have almost certainly won" but for the crowd intervention.

The sordid saga of Karachi continues in our next episode tomorrow.

R Rangaraj

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