India home ministry voices concern over Pakistan tour

Yashovardhan Azad (centre) inspects the facilities at Peshawar as part of India's delegation reviewing security measures in Pakistan © Getty Images

Even as a special three-man team has expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements in Pakistan, reports, emerging from New Delhi suggest that the Indian home ministry wants that the tour postponed. Media reports suggest that the home ministry conveyed this to the Board of Control for Cricket in India through non-official channels.

While the BCCI is keen to go ahead with the tour as planned, they are waiting for a report from the three-man inspection team, which is in Pakistan at the moment, on a reconnaissance mission. Further, several players including Sourav Ganguly, the captain, have expressed concerns over the security situation in Pakistan. With these factors in mind, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the BCCI, has to tread carefully as he will be at the receiving end of a lot of flak if the tour should be marred by any mishaps.

While all these factors are central to the home ministry's concerns, there is also the fact that the national elections are around the corner. It is believed that the ruling National Democratic Alliance is worried that the possible fall out of the tour might harm their prospects. At the moment, though, no official word has come from the home ministry on this matter.