The plan to play cricket in Pakistan this winter is in umbrae. To blame? Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Why? A foreign education, a brief-very brief- study of Arabic at a lifestyle college* in the past, my former occupancy of the family home in London, my current residential proximity to an infamous Mosque, multi-citizenship and part moslem parentage- all this added to a previously declared desire to ‘travelplaycricketwrite’ in Pakistan has finally brought me under the gaze of MI5. A detention order as governed by the 2006 Terrorism act is imminent.
Injecting oneself into global events? Very sad I know but it’s fair to say now’s not the best time to visit Pakistan as a Nigerian. Didn’t want to head to Pakistan with my American passport and until a week ago the Nigerian one was a good bet. Despite eligibilty for a UK passport I doubt that document is viewed with neutrality should things get dicey. Still I’m glad the security services have got my number and finally no fly listed me.
*Aforementioned lifestyle college ran a school with a Centre for Terrorism, where lots of foreigners like me were taught by experts in terror.
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