Tauqir surprised over Indian decision

Karachi, Aug 12: The PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said that he was surprised by the Indian decision to pull out of the fivematch series in Toronto. He also admitted at a press conference at the National Stadium that in the backdrop of recent developments, he wasn't sure if the Indian team would cross borders for a three-Test and five-match series later this year.

"The Indian withdrawal is surprising and disappointing. It was decided in London between me and the top Indian board officials that they would play in Toronto and then in Pakistan. But I believe they were denied permission by their government," the general said.

He said unlike Pakistan where the cricket board was an autonomous body, the Indian cricket board came under the sports ministry. He said the impression he got from press reports was that the two institutions were operating on different lines with the board supporting the tainted stars and the ministry against their inclusion.

"It doesn't make any sense to me that Kashmir has been made the issue. We played in Dhaka, in the Under-15 tournament in England and now we will face in Kenya. The players of the two countries also played in one team in Dhaka and at The Oval. I mean if the (Indian) government policy is against playing Pakistan, why confined only to cricket. Then it should ban other sports as well," he said while reference to the participation of the two countries in next month's Sydney Olympics.

The general said his board has now started to evaluate things and said his advisory panel has been instructed to come in Tuesday's meeting with some contingency plan in case India doesn't tour Pakistan later this year.

He said Pakistan would not boycott playing cricket matches with India. "Let them face the wrath of the public and international media. We are always ready to play them. Besides, breaking relations in sports is never a solution."

The PCB chairman said that he would take up the proposal with the ICC that his affiliated units are not influenced by their respective governments like FIFA.