Tauqir Zia critical of India's withdrawal

Pakistan cricket supremo General Tauqir Zia has expressed his irritation over India's pulling out of the Sahara Cup. The tournament was scheduled to be played between India and Pakistan at the offshore venue of Toronto in the month of September. India pulled out in the last minute, as they did last year, at the behest of a Government of India directive not to play Pakistan. This decision was made taking into account the recent escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Although Zia had earlier sounded optimistic about the possibility of India and Pakistan playing a full series in the near future, his latest statements indicate that it is very unlikely that any such series will take place. A Pakistani website qoutes him as having said "When I go to Dubai to attend the Asian Cricket Council meetings I'll make it clear to the Indian officials that they should let us know if they can come to Pakistan. If they are not coming, we must start making alternate arrangements," he said.

Although his irritation is rather obvious, there is room to doubt the seriousness of his intent. Go4cricket.com quotes Jaywant Lele, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India as saying that he knows of no meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in Dubai. If indeed there is no such meeting scheduled, Zia will find it difficult to assert his cause. Zia has also asserted that the Pakistan Cricket Board will turn to the International Cricket Council to resolve the issue, "We want to ask the ICC what is the purpose of preparing international programmes in advance, when teams can pull out at the last moment?" he stated.

India, however, is unlikely to play Pakistan in the near future. The Government has already clarified that the injunction against playing Pakistan applies only to bilateral series. Will the two countries then clash in the ICC knock out tournament in Nairobi? Not very likely. The organisers have wisely placed India and Pakistan in different halves of the draw. If they have to meet, it will be in the final.