Tauqir Zia doubts Indian team's tour will take place

Lahore,July 19: Lt.-Gen. Tauqir Zia has said that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would welcome the Indian team next January but prospects of the tour looked bleak.

Talking to mediamen at the Qadhafi Stadium on Wednesday morning, the PCB ad hoc committee chairman said that he had asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials during his meeting with them in England to send their team on the planned tour.

"Although the BCCI officials agreed to send the team to Pakistan early next year yet I do not see the tour taking place", said Gen Tauqir.

The PCB chairman said that the outgoing International Cricket Conference (ICC) chairman from India, Jagmohan Dalmia, and the BCCI secretary Mr Lele had given a firm assurance that the Indian junior team would be sent to participate in the ongoing Asia Cup Under-17 Cricket Tournament but they have put forward lame excuses for not doing the needful. An invitation letter and nine reminders had been sent to the BCCI but the response had been disappointing.

Replying to a question, Gen Tauqir said that there was a unanimity of views among Pakistani and Indian boards officials on many issues at the International Cricket Conference (ICC) meeting and it is hoped the co-operation would continue. Gen Tauqir said that during a meeting with John Reid, which was held at his request, "I told the 71-year-old referee that it was time he took rest rather than getting involved in refereeing the international matches. I reminded him that he had been removed from captaincy of the New Zealand team for his biased remarks against the players of the sub-continent and it will be advisable that he should not supervise the matches which involved the Pakistan team, if at all he is serious to continue with his job. I told him that unfortunately he did not have requisite knowledge of the rules under which he takes action against players" said Gen Tauqir.

Replying to another question, the PCB chairman disclosed that a letter is being issued to paceman Waqar Younis to explain why action should not be taken against him for "bringing bad name to the country" through his questionable behavior.

A delegation of the Sports Writers Association of Punjab (SWAP) met Lt.-Gen. Tauqir Zia in the morning and discussed with him issues regarding coverage of the England cricket team's matches in the province.