Sahara Cup is not dead, organizers say

Toronto, Aug 25: Sahara Cup is not dead. Hopefully it will be revived next year, said an official of International Management Group (IMG) here on Friday.

Wendy Kane, director of events of IMG, the main organizers of Sahara Cup, confirmed reports that all-out efforts were made to arrange an alternative cricket event in Toronto next month but the organizers failed to get a team which could replace Indian side which has withdrawn from the cup.

He said cricket officials here were finally left with no choice but to cancel the event for the year 2000. He hoped that Sahara Cup would return to Canada next year. India had also refused to play Pakistan in last year's Sahara Cup but the organizers promptly invited West Indians to play a series of three matches each against India and Pakistan.

The hurriedly-arranged event was known as Toronto Cricket Festival. "Efforts were made to hold that kind of event again but this time no team was available to assume the role of the Caribbeans," said an official of Canadian Cricket Association (CCA) which stopped renovation work at the Toronto Cricket, Curling and Skating Club.

According to reliable sources here, the cricket officials had approached Sri Lankan and New Zealand cricket teams but the CCA official declined to identify the country it had offered to play in the second Toronto Festival.

Meanwhile, the IMG-Canada today officially informed newspaper offices here that Sahara Cup is off for the current year.

In a press release the IMG said: "Despite all attempts to arrange an alternative cricket event in Toronto during the dates scheduled for Sahara Cup (Sept. 9 to 18, 2000), it has been concluded that due to the unavailability of suitable teams the only appropriate action to take is to cancel this year's tournament and concentrate on Sahara Cup 2001."

The press release further said:"We obviously very much regret the disappointment that this will cause to those broadcasters and sponsors who support the event and most importantly the many loyal cricket fans who eagerly anticipate this tournament each year. We look forward to bringing the event back to Canada in 2001."