Extremists fail to halt Pakistan's Indian tour (8 January 1999)

8 January 1999

Extremists fail to halt Pakistan's Indian tour

By Richard Bright

OFFICIALS are adamant that Pakistan's first Test series on Indian soil in 12 years will go ahead as scheduled despite vandalism of the New Delhi venue for the first match by members of a right-wing Hindu party.

About 25 supporters of extremist leader Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena party climbed over a 6ft wall at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium on Wednesday night and dug up the pitch.

But the Delhi cricket secretary, Sunil Dev, said the damage was "minimum and repairable" and was confident the wicket will be ready before the opening Test starts on Jan 28.

Four people arrested for damaging the wicket have been charged with criminal trespass and criminal intimidation. Police later tightened security around the ground and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ordered other grounds staging Pakistan's matches to follow suit.

BCCI secretary Jayawant Lele said: "We will not fail in our duty to provide adequate security. The tour is very much on."

Yesterday a leading official of Shiv Sena, Jaya Bhagwan Goel, warned Pakistan players that they risked physical assault. He said: "Games are played between friends, not enemies."

Majid Khan, chief executive of Pakistan's Cricket Board, and team captain Wasim Akram say the tour should go ahead.

International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya will miss the executive committee meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday and Monday, when match-fixing will be discussed. Dalmiya's mother died in India and he has remained there in mourning.

Tony Cross is to stand down as Warwickshire's vice-chairman following press coverage of a VAT inquiry into the Fownes Hotel Group of which he is a director. He has also resigned from the England management committee.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)