Pakistan keen to send cricket team to India (8 January 1999)

8 January 1999

Pakistan keen to send cricket team to India

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, Jan 7: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are still keen to send their team to India despite receiving further threats by the Shiv Sena whose activists dug up Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium pitch in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

"We are still keen to send the team to India. But after whatever has happened in the last 24 hours, the ball remains in the Indian court," PCB chief executive Majid Khan told Dawn from Lahore.

Majid Khan, who toured India twice with the cricket team, however, emphasised that the tour would transpire after seeking fresh approval from the Pakistan government.

"Naturally, after the latest incident the Pakistan government has been involved. They would receive a feed back from its High Commissioner (in New Delhi) on the basis of which they would be advising us (PCB)," stated Majid.

"At the moment, I am keen to send the team to India but the final decision would be made not before 10 days when the government advises us," he said, adding: "As far as we are concerned, the tour is on and stays that way until the government advises us otherwise."

The chief executive said the PCB is sending its own representative to assess the situation. "He would be calling on the Pakistan High Commissioner besides talking to the BCCI and other officials. Let's see what report he submits."

Majid Khan was of the view that the recent developments were both serious and non-serious.

"The event is non-serious in the context that it is not new that the pitch has been dug up by vandals. Last month when our `A' team was touring New Zealand, the pitch was damaged. Similarly, it has happened in the Test matches between Australia and England.

"But the serious aspect of it are the threats. If the Shiv Sena claims that they would assault Pakistani players, its a threat that can't be taken in casual manner."

Nusrat Azeem, the senior most PCB executive council member, said it was more a political move by the Shiv Sena "and the Pakistan government should tackle it that way. It is not sport where the PCB comes in."

"We want to create goodwill between the two countries. Now its upto the cricket board to take up the matter to proper channel properly," he added.

Hanif Mohammad, a former Pakistan captain, refused to comment whether the tour should take place. However, he said whatever has happened is in a bad taste.

"Sports brings the people closer. But a select group of people don't want that peace and harmony should be created between the two people. The digging of pitch and further threats are in a bad taste."

Waqar Hasan, former chairman of selectors, said it was a political matter and should be sorted out by the politicians of the two countries. "The cricket team is going there to play cricket and they should be allowed to do that.

"It is purely an Indian matter because it relates with the law and order. But if the Pakistan cricket team goes there, more goodwill would be created and the sport would flourish."

"If Mr Bal Thackeray has any problems, the Indian government should tackle it. Why cricket or Pakistan should suffer for their internal politics," Waqar, a former stylish Test batsman of yore, stated.

Intikhab Alam, who managed the Pakistan team to India for the World Cup quarter-finals, said: "The cricket team should go to India but if there is tension and the security is not upto mark, they can always come back. You see, the point here is that Indian Prime Minister has promised state security and you have to trust his words."

Alam said when he took the team to Bangalore for the World Cup quarter-finals, the security was very tight. "I was very pleased the way my team was taken care of. There were commandos outside hotel rooms of the players and no one was allowed to go out without their (commandos) permission."

Haroon Rasheed, former manager, said the tour should take place otherwise it would set a wrong precedence. "Whosoever would want to disrupt the tour in future, would do wrong things to get it postponed and no cricket would ever be played between the two countries.

"It is one section which doesn't want the tour to materialize and if the Indian government is not ready to succumb to their pressure, why should we," he added.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)