PCB chief pulls up Pak manager

Seeking to soothe hurt feelings, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Gen Tauqir Zia played his part in the most diplomatic manner possible when on arrival in Colombo on Monday, he stressed he was keen on having a good working relationship and cordial relations with officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Indeed officials of the two boards were enjoying a very good rapport. They had resumed dialogue on bilateral tours and matters were being discussed on India making their long awaited tour of Pakistan during the 2000-2001 season. Pakistan had in fact sent a preliminary itinerary for approval to the BCCI and everything seemed to be hunkydory. And then, came the bolt from the blue with the manager of the Pakistan team touring Sri Lanka Brig. Md Nasir making some unwarranted remarks about India being responsible for the match fixing scandal.

Zia was of the view that Nasir should not have made the derogatory remarks against India. He said he had spoken to Nasir after the BCCI sent a letter, voicing their strong protest against the comments. Zia made it clear to Nasir that he should avoid such remarks and leave such matters upto the concerned boards. But Zia also insisted that he had not reprimanded Nasir or had decided to sack him.

The Pakistan cricket chief also made it clear that the two countries were both committed to rooting out the match-fixing menace and had no differenct views on this.

With Zia's firm stand and his diplomatic handling of a potentially explosive situation, the way does seem clear now for India to make a full tour of Pakistan for the first time since 1989-90.