The deadly attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket team in the early march, has stripped Pakistan of the hosting right for the world cup 2011. Pakistan was one of the co-hosts for the 2011 world cup along with India, Srilanka, Bangladesh.
Major International teams had doubts visiting Pakistan, and their doubts gained firm ground after the deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, which resulted in the cancellation of the Pakistan Sri Lanka series, and ultimately many countries raised their doubts and inability to visit Pakistan for the upcoming matches and even for the world cup.
This has been a big blow for Pakistan, having already lost hosting champion's trophy early this year due to similar concerns.
Pakistani cricket seems to be facing all sorts of trouble from players to administration and is in dire need of revitalization to be on the right footing.
Pakistan Cricket Board had good relations with Indian Cricket Board. This good relationship was evident when the Pakistan Cricket Board banned the players who signed up with the Indian cricket league from playing for the national team, which BCCI does not endorse or count as an official league. Many players like Muhammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat signed up with ICL, which is not recognized by PCB, BCCI or even by ICC.
Pakistan faced a big blow as all these players were an asset for Pakistan, but PCB under pressure for BCCI banned these players from being selected for the national team or domestic tournaments.
But after the attack in Mumbai 2008, the relations between the two countries detoriated, with cricket issues also taking the heat, and India turned down touring Pakistan, which caused another setback to Pakistan.
Pakistan seems to be standing alone in this critical time, and has been forced to play the home series on neutral venues, like UAE.
Cricket has been a binding force of this nation, which is followed next to religion and vastly followed throughout the country. The sport is the one thing that has kept the nation united.
The game has seen many high and lows throughout its journey, but the current times have put it to the wire, and it needs to be revitalized, not just on a local level, but on administrative and international front.
Domestic cricket is already in tatters, with little facilities for domestic cricketers, lack of sponsorship, underpaid players, which has put its own toll on the development of cricket, combined with the other teams rightful unwillingness to visit the country is hampering the development of cricket and fthe inding of new talent.
Cricket is one sport that is being looked over by the youth of this country, and it needs to be in order for the game to progress.