Pakistan government to decide fate of India tour, board says (14 January 1999)

14 January 1999

Pakistan government to decide fate of India tour, board says

AFP

KARACHI, Jan 14 (AFP) - The Pakistan government will make the final decision on whether to go ahead with a cricket tour of India scheduled for this month following threats from Hindu militants, Pakistan cricket chief Khalid Mahmood said Thursday.

"The decision has now gone beyond the limits of the cricket board and the fate will now be decided by the Pakistan government," he said on return from the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in New Zealand.

"We want the tour to go ahead but security is the prime priority and it's up to the Indian Government to give our players hundred per cent safe security," the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman said.

After Hindu militants last week dug up the pitch in New Delhi where the first Test was to have been played, Pakistan cricket authorities sent a special envoy to assess the situation.

"Brigadier Saeed Rafi is in India, he is a security specialist and he will enlighten us about the situation," said Mahmood.

The final decision will be taken in the light of Rafi's report, he said.

The Pakistani cricket team is scheduled to arrive in India on January 21 for its first Test series on Indian soil for 12 years. But Hindu zealots have threatened to sabotage the games to protest against Pakistan's alleged support for Indian insurgents.

Source :: AFP