Pakistan tour on, say Dalmiya and Ganguly

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian board, and Sourav Ganguly have denied reports that the Indian team is keen to call off their tour to Pakistan, which is scheduled for February 2004. According to Mid Day, the team had faxed a letter to the board expressing their concern about security in Pakistan, but both Ganguly and Dalmiya denied the story. "I have also heard such rumours," Ganguly said in a report in The Times of India. "There is no truth to them."

Dalmiya, too, stated that he had no idea about such a letter being sent to him. "It's news to me. There is no information about any letter being faxed to me or anyone making any phone call to me seeking to opt out of the Pakistan tour."

Dalmiya insisted that the tour was very much on. "The itinerary for the series in Pakistan is still to be finalised. The board is working on the details of the fixtures and venues."

The report in Mid Day had stated that the Indian players were worried after recent assassination attempts on Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president. There were two such attempts over a 12-day period earlier this month, forcing Musharraf to shift residence for security reasons.