Dubai: International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat today offered his condolences to the people of Mumbai and those caught up in the terror attacks on the city, on behalf of world cricket"s governing body.

Lorgat pledged to provide whatever assistance might be required by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“On behalf of the ICC I would like to offer the condolences and sympathy of the entire cricket world to Mumbai and to India in the wake of the terrible events of the last few days," an ICC press release quoted him, as saying.

“We can be grateful that members of the cricketing fraternity who were in Mumbai when the terrorists struck have all been accounted for but what has happened goes beyond individuals.  Many innocent lives have been lost and it has shocked the whole world.

“Sadly, terrorism appears increasingly to be a fact of life that we must endure. What we as a cricket family must do is to try, wherever possible, to rise above it and show that those who wish to perpetrate evil cannot win.

“If safety and security allow then I would urge the England Test tour of India to go ahead and if it does so then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams.

“And if those Tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy.

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“I have today written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pledging whatever support the ICC can offer to help ensure that, if appropriate, cricket goes ahead.

“I have also written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with a similar offer of support and solidarity.

“The Chief Executives of the ICC"s 10 Full Members, as well as three Associate Member representatives, the ICC President, Vice President and I will be meeting in Cape Town next week in a scheduled Chief Executives" Committee (CEC) meeting.

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“At that meeting I intend to raise the question of how we can all come together to address the challenges that the issue of safety and security brings to our game.

“Cricket is a common thread that binds all ICC Members and we must seek to ensure those ties endure.  By doing so we will ensure our strong sport will grow even stronger," added Lorgat.


ANI

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