Tour of Pakistan: Govt may have the final say

A decision by the Government need not always be final. A recent case in point was the rollback on certain petroleum products. But that was of course done to placate Mamata Banarjee, the leader of one of the key constituents of the NDA government at the Centre. The Government certainly does not need to placate anyone vis a vis its decision to cancel the proposed tour of the Indian cricket team to Pakistan later this season. So when the cancellation of the trip was announced last week, it was assumed that it was curtains as far as the trip was concerned. Not unexpectedly, there were vociferous protests from across the border while the International Cricket Council threatened India with financial penalties and even hinted at cricketing sanctions against the country.

But the Indian government's stand has been pretty clear on the issue. It has stated that Pakistan's hostile propaganda and constant calls for 'jehad' against India by the establishment and extremist groups had created an environment making an Indian cricket team's tour of that country "inappropriate". India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to create a conducive climate, which would enable it to have the confidence that the security and welfare of its team would be ensured and that a tour would serve positive purposes. Given this background, the Government's decision meant that the trip had been grounded once and for all, besides of course causing concern regarding future cricketing ties involving the two countries.

Suddenly however over the last couple of days hopes were unexpectedly revived through the efforts of the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Raj Singh Dungarpur. While he was in Lahore to attend the ICC's marketing and finance committee meeting, he had first hand knowledge of gauging the mood in Pakistan where the officials have always been keen that the tour should materialise. Coming back to India, Dungarpur then had a meeting with foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh who apparently assured him that the Government decision was not the end of the bilateral cricket series. ``We have not slammed the door on Pakistan forever,'' Dungarpur quoted Mansingh as saying. All this gave rise to speculation that there was hope of reviving the tour.

Talking to reporters at the Kotla on Tuesday, Dungarpur felt the India-Pakistan series should be encouraged with greater intensity than the Ashes. With this in mind, he even had a 45-minute meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. ``He asked for certain clarifications from the BCCI and now it is up to the BCCI president AC Muthiah to respond,'' said Dungarpur. Incidentally, Muthiah and BCCI secretary JY Lele are currently in Sharjah attending the Asian Cricket Council meeting. The Asian delegates in fact, among other things, will also discuss matters relating to the Asia Cup to be hosted by Pakistan next year.

Dungarpur however clarified that his trip to Pakistan was not meant to be a damage control exercise for the BCCI in the wake of criticism from the PCB and the ICC but was purely an official one. He said he went to Pakistan after 16 years and was greeted with warmth and affection. But he added that there was deep-seated resentment and disappointment all over the country. ``It was as if there had been a death in the cricketing family," Dungarpur is quoted to have said.

Dungarpur's moves fuelled fresh speculation that the tour might be revived but on Tuesday night, the Government sought to scotch such speculation about a possible re-think on the series, asserting there was no change in its decision to veto the tour. "There is no change in the announcement made earlier," a foreign office spokesman told reporters, responding to a question. So despite all the raised hopes, it does seem that the Government may have the final say in the matter.