Saeed Ajmal’s cricket academy forced to shut down due to terror threats from extremists

Saeed Ajmal’s cricket academy forced to shut down due to terror threats from extremists: Pakistani off spinner Saeed Ajmal’s cricket academy has been forced to shut down following threats from terrorists. Ajmal’s cricket academy is situated in his hometown Faisalabad and trains about 198 boys, girls and disabled cricketers.

Ajmal met with the deputy commissioner of Faisalabad and the vice-chancellor of Faisalabad Agriculture University on whose land the academy is located and confirmed the news that he has to temporarily shut down his academy citing security reasons.

Ajmal who did not make the final cut in the 15-man Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup because of his questionable ‘doosra’ that is under ICC review said on Wednesday.

“I was told that the Punjab government has sent advice to close down the academy temporarily because threats have been received against the academy that it may be attacked,”

“The administration had suspicions and security concerns and said it should be closed down until proper security arrangements made to run it,” the off-spinner further added.

The Pakistan government has issued warnings about terrorist threats to educational institutions in the country after the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16 in which around 132 schoolchildren were killed in cold blood by attacking terrorist.

Ajmal said that presently there were around 198 boys and girls and even disabled cricketers attending the academy regularly while there were another 80  youngsters who came on and off for coaching classes. “I didn’t want to take a risk with these youngsters and right now the government is helping us prepare a comprehensive security plan for the academy including issuance of computerized identity cards for all the participants, coaches and workers at the academy’.

“It is disappointing to close down the academy for the time being in such conditions but it is a sensible move right now,” he added. Ajmal said the academy was a big dream for him and he has spent around 30 million rupees on it and provides free coaching to the youngsters.

Subsequently after the Army Public School tragedy last month, the government in all four provinces of Pakistan has told private institutions to set up their own security cover before reopening their institutions after the extended winter vacations.