PCB considering 'appropriate response' to Bharti's statement

Pakistan Cricket Board is considering an appropriate response to Sports Minister Uma Bharti's recent announcement that India would play against Pakistan only in ICC approved multinational tournaments.

"We are considering an appropriate response," PCB's Director Operations Brig. Munawar Rana told PTI over phone from the Board headquarters in Lahore today.

Rana said Bharti's statement had been taken note of by PCB which would soon react after consultations with the Government.

PCB has been following with considerable interest the recent exchanges between Indian Cricket Board and the Sports Minister over the evolving of a coherent policy towards playing Pakistan in the bilateral, international as well as sponsorship tournaments in Sharjah and Toronto.

PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia had reacted sharply to reports that India had pulled out of the Sharjah triangular series earlier this month and threatened not to play India anywhere in future. However, with the Indian government's announcement putting on hold its team's participation only in 'non-regular venues' for three years, he virtually retracted his statement saying a final decision would be taken after consulting the government.

PCB officials admitted in private that Pakistan should adopt a wait and watch policy as BCCI itself seemed to be in disagreement with government policy. Pakistan media had given extensive coverage to former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur's statement criticising government's decision not to send its team to Sharjah.