The Hindu : 'India will not play cricket with Pak.'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 05, 2003

National

National

'India will not play cricket with Pak.'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 4. India will not play cricket with Pakistan until the latter ends cross-border terrorism, the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Vikram Verma, said here today.

In an informal chat with presspersons after participating in a function organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Youth Hostel, Chennai, Mr. Verma said "there will be no cricket match between India and Pakistan at present, after the World Cup or at anytime till Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism."

The Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs had taken a strategic-level decision in this regard and there was no change in it.

"There is no question of India playing a Test match and a one-day series with Pakistan, either in Pakistan, India or in any other common venue," Mr. Verma said.

Exuding confidence that India had a bright chance of winning the World Cup, he said India's not-so-good performance in the recently-concluded cricket series with the West Indies and the ongoing series with New Zealand was only a temporary phenomenon. The team would bounce back and "India will definitely win the World Cup."

Asked about the decision of England and Australia not to play cricket in Zimbabwe in the World Cup series because of security reasons, the Minister said India had not taken any such decision.

"When we invite Zimbabwe to play in our country, why not we play there?"

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