Cricket in Turmoil

In 2007 the untimely death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer at the Cricket World Cup shocked the the world and drew comment from persons far removed from our sporting bubble. I was in Barbados at the time and even the final display in the glittering career of Brian Lara couldn't distract from the shock emanating from nearby Jamaica. What followed was a media orgy of speculation and intrigue, culminating in a repeatedly botched investigation by the local police and a tragically long period of extended grief for Woolmer's wife and family.
Perhaps we should have learnt our lesson. After Chris Broad's emotional outburst to the press yesterday, angrily airing the suspicions many had held that the security was not up to scratch, the PCB moved quickly. Not to launch an investigation (although one has begun) nor to apologise, but to lodge a complaint with Broad's employers, the ICC. Not only that, PCB chief and spokesman Ijaz Butt said that Broad's statement was "fabricated" and he encouraged the ICC not to be "hasty" with regards to Pakistan's hosting of 2011 World Cup. Whether or not this is the last act of a man desperate to save his job or the genuine view of the PCB, to say this at this time is, at best, a serious lapse in judgement.
Dominic Cork has immediately responded on Sky Sports News in defence of Broad, whilst fellow umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis have moved swiftly defended their fellow official. I am no expert in Presidential Security (the level promised to players and officials alike), but the pictures of the minibus under fire seemed to support the umpires and officials.
It is not a phenomena exclusive to the cricketing world, but almost two years to the day to the death of Bob Woolmer we seem already to be lurching towards a similar disaster in the aftermath of tragedy. One can only hope this is not the case and the enquiry is concluded promptly and diligently. Either way, it seems without doubt that the PCB may be yet to get their priorities sorted, in the shock of the terrorist attack. If their goal is to ever regain the trust of cricketing world then they cannot afford to wait too long.