The Hindu : ``Europeans don't play cricket''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2004

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``Europeans don't play cricket''

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent.

NEW DELHI, FEB. 16. It's an issue that refuses to go away. The question of India's cricket tour to Pakistan figured at the joint press conference between the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, and the visiting European Union "troika" of Ministers.

"Europeans don't play cricket," Mr. Sinha responded when asked whether Indian security personnel would accompany the cricketers for the Pakistan tour.

The E.U.'s External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, however, differed with Mr. Sinha and pointed out gently that his country, Britain, did play the game.

This prompted the leader of the E.U. troika, the Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen, to intervene as well. "The European Union will remain neutral in the cricket series between India and Pakistan," Mr. Cowen quipped. The E.U. troika will also visit Pakistan.

On a more serious note, official sources said that a view on the security requirements of the Indian cricket team would be taken once the three-member Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) delegation returns from Pakistan. The sources said all the issues relating to security - the possibility of private security personnel accompanying the team included - would be discussed once the team, which includes a senior police officer - returned from Pakistan.

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