India's refusal shocks Canadians

Toronto: Cricket organizers here took with great surprise the news of India's refusal to play in next month's Sahara Cup. The news reached Toronto, the venue of Sahara Cup, only few hours after the organizers had officially briefed the Canadian media about the plans for the series of five One-Day Internationals between India and Pakistan.

The first match of the series was to be played on Sept 9. "We really don't know what to do now," said one official of the Canadian Cricket Association.

Earlier on Thursday morning, the organizers had issued a press release saying that more than two billion cricket fans around the world would watch Sahara Cup matches on TV.

It said the IMG's television production company, Trans World International (TWI) would produce multi-camera, state-of-the-art coverage of the matches which will also be broadcast nationally in Canada.

The organizers had also announced the sale of tickets from Aug 21. Hours before the dramatic developments, Geoff Edwards, chief of the Canadian Cricket Association had welcomed the return of Sahara Cup to Toronto after a gap of one year.

"The news has upset our plans," said Edwards afterward. India had also refused to play with Pakistan in the Cup last year following Kargil confrontation.

The organizers then had hurriedly arranged two different cricket series with West Indies playing three matches each against India and Pakistan separately.

The twin series was known as Toronto Cricket Festival. But nobody knows now what will be the future course of action.

"It will be too early to say anything," said officials who were busy making preparations for the matches at Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club.

The renovation work has not been officially stopped yet.

New options: International Management Group, the main organizers of Sahara Cup, is considering new options after India pulled out of the Toronto cricket event.

A press note issued in Toronto Friday morning, the IMG said: "We confirm that we have received notifications from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that their application to the government of India to send a team to play against Pakistan in the Sahara Cup Cricket Tournament here from 9-17 September has been rejected." The press note further said: "IMG is now considering what options remain available and will issue a further release at the conclusion of this process."