Pakistani officials optimistic about Ahmedabad issue

Pakistani officials are optimistic that the controversy surrounding playing a Test at Ahmedabad will be resolved when India's foreign minister visits Islamabad next week. The News of Karachi quotes a top official as saying, "The way we look at it Natwar Singh's visit would be crucial from our point of view. Because we believe that the issue of playing at Ahmedabad should now be resolved at the meeting of the foreign ministers next week."

The Indian foreign minister is due to visit Islamabad next week to hold talks with various Pakistani officials as part of the peace initiatives between the two countries. The minister's visit coincides with the board's working committee meeting on February 17, which will finalise the dates and venues for Pakistan's three-Test and five-ODI series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had expressed grave concerns about playing in Ahmedabad in West India on the basis that the place was communally sensitive, and has witnessed some of the worst clashes between Hindus and Muslims in recent times.

Recently Rajeev Shukla, a member of parliament and vice-president of the cricket board, met with the Pakistani president's security advisor, and related officials, to discuss playing in Ahmedabad.