Pakistan announces its cricket team will go to India (17 January 1999)

17 Jan 1999

Pakistan announces its cricket team will go to India

AFP

KARACHI, Jan 17 (AFP) - Pakistan late Sunday gave the go-ahead to its cricket team to tour India, putting confidence in assurances given by the Indian government for the security of its players, Information Minister Mushahid Hussain told AFP.

"Pakistan team will go to India as planned," Hussain said adding the squad will leave for India on January 21 to play the first Test series on Indian soil in 12 years.

"We have decided this on the basis of firm commitments given by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee," the Minister siad.

Doubts had been lingering over Pakistan team's tour to India after renewed threats from Hindu militants who earlier this month dug up pitch at New Delhi's main stadium, the venue of first Test.

"The positive response of the Pakistani High Commissioner in India, the special envoy of Pakistan cricket board Saeed Ahmed Rafi and above all the Indian government are good enough to take on the tour," Hussain added.

Pakistan will open its tour with a three-day side match on Janaury 23 at Gwalior. The team will play a series of two Test matches, participate in the first ever Asian Test Chamionship and also play a limited over three-nation one-day tournamnet, also involving Sri Lanka.

Hussain welcomed a reported decision of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to snap its alliance with the Hindu militant Shiv Sena Party in the coalition government in Maharashtra province if the fundamentalist Hindus persist with their plans to sabotage Pakistan team's tour.

Former cricket captain Imran Khan welcomed Pakistan's decision not to cancel the trip despite threats by the militants.

"It's a very positive decision and will clear the air a lot," the cricket hero turned politician said.

Imran tipped Pakistan as a favourite to win the series, but said "it's upto the players to give their best.

"Pakistan is definitely a better team, but its upto the players how they sustain off and on field pressure in India," Imran said.

He pinned much hopes on the captaincy of pace bowler Wasim Akram.

The former Pakistani captain in a statement last week called for the arrest of Shiv Sena party leader Bal Thackeray. The call triggered a reaction in Bombay where militants burned Imran's effigy in protest.

"I am least bothered and stand by to what I said that miscreants like Bal Thackeray should not be allowed to do unlawful acts," Imran said.