Pakistan Batsman Ahmed Shehzad Cries in Memory of Peshawar Victims
Pakistan and New Zealand players observed a minute's silence to pay respect to the victims of a deadly Taliban attack in Peshwar that killed over 130 children.
Pakistan opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad was in tears moments before the fourth ODI versus New Zealand got under way in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. More than 130 students and nine staff members died on Tuesday when Taliban gunmen broke into a school in Peshawar and opened fire in one of the most horrifying acts of terrorism that has rocked Pakistan.
Both teams observed a minute's silence and Shehzad, who was born in Lahore and is considered one of the best ODI batsmen in the world with six hundreds could not control his emotions, breaking into tears.
Earlier in the day, former captain Younis Khan said Pakistan were in mood to play the fourth one-day international against the Black Caps given the horror inflicted upon his countrymen. "It is a national tragedy and a barbaric act. Playing the match is going to be very difficult," Younus told Geo Super television. How do you play a match when your spirit is not in the game? That is our state of mind right now. When Phil Hughes died it shocked every one of us and we postponed a day's play in the Test match against New Zealand," he added.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it cannot postpone the one-day international due to broadcast commitments.
"We tried our best to postpone the 4th ODI but were constrained by the Broadcasters commitment as well as for cricketing reasons advised by the New Zealand management", said a PCB release. We are playing outside Pakistan only because of the threat of terrorism at home. If we allow terrorists to disrupt our matches abroad, then all will be lost," said PCB.
Pakistan have been were forced to play their home series on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates following the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. The PCB said players will mourn the Peshawar tragedy.
"So we have decided to go ahead with the match and our players will wear black armbands in grief and observe a minute's silence and flags will be lowered."
The PCB said the match gate money will go to the families of the dead and for the rebuilding of the school.
(With inputs from AFP)