Cricket often struggles with security issues disrupting the game.
Recently, the Sri Lankan team worried about safety due to riots in England, impacting their training and the upcoming series. Political unrest in Bangladesh is also affecting the ICC’s plans for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, leading to a search for backup venues.
Security concerns have historically caused the Series That Were Cancelled. Here are five notable examples.
5. India’s Tour of Pakistan, 2009
Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the already delicate cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan faced additional strain, leading to the cancellation of their 2009 tour.
India’s choice to cancel the 2009 tour to Pakistan was driven not only by urgent security issues but also by the overall political situation at the time.
This cancellation had repercussions beyond cricket, impacting diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a result, India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket matches since.
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4. Australia in the 1996 World Cup
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Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the 1996 World Cup final
In the 1996 World Cup held in the Indian subcontinent, Australia chose not to play their group matches in Sri Lanka due to the ongoing civil unrest and threats of terrorism.
This decision faced significant criticism but also underscored the challenges cricket teams encounter when visiting areas with conflicts.
Interestingly, Australia’s forfeited matches ultimately contributed to Sri Lanka’s remarkable journey to win the title.
3. New Zealand During the 2003 World Cup
The 2003 World Cup faced significant security issues, especially with New Zealand’s decision not to play in Kenya.
New Zealand’s cricket officials chose not to travel to Nairobi due to threats from the terrorist group Boko Haram. This choice sparked a lot of controversy and debate.
The ICC’s refusal to move the match to a safer location, like South Africa, resulted in New Zealand forfeiting the points to Kenya, and they did not play the game.
2. England’s Tour to India, 2008
The 2008 Mumbai attacks significantly affected international cricket, especially England’s tour of India.
During the attacks, which were a series of coordinated terrorist assaults on the city, the England cricket team was in the middle of their tour. This led to their swift return to England.
The situation was highly tense and filled with uncertainty. The tour eventually resumed after a few weeks, thanks to increased security and diplomatic guarantees. However, the series was initially called off.
1. International Cricket in Pakistan, 2009
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The attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009 marked one of the darkest days in the history of international cricket.
Armed militants attacked the team bus, resulting in the deaths of several police officers and injuries to the players.
This terrible act of terrorism caused immediate shock and had lasting effects on cricket in Pakistan.
For nearly six years, international cricket teams avoided Pakistan, impacting the country’s home matches and isolating it from the global cricket community.
Even now, many countries are still wary of visiting Pakistan. For instance, the Indian team is still hesitant to travel there for the Champions Trophy in 2025.
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