Indian cricket chief gives green light to Pakistan tour (19 January 1999)

19 January 1999

Indian cricket chief gives green light to Pakistan tour

AFP

BOMBAY, Jan 19 (AFP) - The head of the Indian cricket board confirmed Tuesday that Pakistan's upcoming tour of India would go ahead, despite the ransacking of the board's headquarters in Bombay by Hindu militants.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Rajsingh Dungarpur told AFP that his Pakistani counterparts had also confirmed they would be arriving in India on Thursday as scheduled.

"The tour is very much on. The Pakistan side a few minutes ago confirmed that they are coming, which is what we have always wanted," Dungapur said=2E

"We have received assurances of full support and full security from the various state governments where the tourists will play, as well as from the central government."

Pakistan's first Test tour of India in 12 years had been jeopardised by Hindu militant groups vowing to disrupt the games in protest at Pakistan's support for Moslem separatists in Kashmir.

In the latest incident, suspected Hindu militants Monday ransacked the BCCI headquarters here, smashing office furniture, equipment and trophies.

Earlier this month, activists from the militant Shiv Sena party dug up the wicket at the first Test venue in New Delhi, causing the match to be moved to the southern city of Madras.

Dungapur condemned the vandalism at the BCCI offices on Monday, saying the damage done to the trophies had desecrated a shrine to Indian cricket's achievements.

"There is a lot of sentiment and sweat attached to these trophies. They epitomise national pride. It is unacceptable for anybody to desecrate them in this manner," Dungapur said. "It is beyond me to describe how hurt I feel at what happened."

Suspicion over the attack fell immediately on the Shiv Sena, but the party was quick to deny any involvement.

In the wake of Monday's incident, Dungarpur has been given special police protection, together with the chairman of the Indian selectors Ajit Wadekar.

A handful of Shiv Sena supporters protested against the tour outside the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday, chanting slogans and throwing empty bottles at the embassy compound.