ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called off their cricket tour of India Sunday because of threats 10. Sabotage the one -day series due to start this week.
“These are very special and unusual circumstances, our boys would have been under real
Pressure and notable to play as Normal, “said Shahid Rafi, secretary of the Board of Control of Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP).
While Shiv Sena activists were issuing only threats, Rafi said Pakistan was prepared to go ahead with the five match tour.
But the BCCP was forced to think again following damage to the Wankhede Stadium pitch in Bombay last week.
The BCCP was very unhappy at calling off an important tour in the run up to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next February and March but felt it had no option, Rafi said.
“It will certainly affect us and our training. We thought this would be good ex posture for some of the young players”.
Even if conditions calmed down in India, Rafi said, there was no chance of rescheduling the tour until after the World Cup.
“A match between Pakistan and India is not just a game of cricket, said sports minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, “It is steeped in more than four decades of competition and resentment”
Muslim blood cannot be sacrificed for a game of cricket”, Ahmed said, “We want to play, but I think it’s just getting too dangerous. I would like to see the tour suspended just until emotions subside”.
BOMBAY: Pakistan’s cancellation of their cricket tour of India has taken everyone by surprise
The office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India had received no official intimation till late in the evening. C.Nagaraj the Board secretary had stayed on after the meeting of the selection committee Satur day especially to receive the Pakistan cricketers who were due to active Monday “It’s all rather unfortunate,” said Nagar.
The selection of the Indian team for the tour of Australia may now be held earlier than scheduled,” Nagarj said.
The team was to be chosen after the third international against Pakistan in New Delhi on November 3. The team is due to leave for Australia on November 11
In a way, India’s cricketers must be re- lived the series is off. After the heat and dust of Sharjah and the reverses sustained.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 1, 1991
