PCB chief voices concern at India's refusal

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 26. Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, threatened on Wednesday not to sign the 10-year programme of the International Cricket Council after India yet again refused to visit Pakistan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last week requested the Government of India to review its decision and allow an Indian team to visit Pakistan for a short tour of two Tests and three one-day internationals.

However, a foreign office spokesman was quoted as saying by an Indian news agency that the government had no such proposal regarding its team's tour of Pakistan.

``It's quite disappointing, Lt. Gen. Tauqir said from Mangla, where he is serving as a Corps Commander.

``It's they (Indian board) who initiated the efforts and I was very hopeful that we would finally host the Indians next month. It's sad that their government has yet again rejected the request,'' the general said.

``We were expecting a positive response on Thursday morning, but I am surprised that the Indian government yet again refused the permission to the BCCI.''

But the PCB boss made it clear that he would take strong notice of the recent development in the next meeting of the International Cricket Council, scheduled in February.

``We are certainly going to lodge a strong protest with the ICC and will reject the proposed 10-year plan,'' he said.

Pakistan is scheduled to host India at least three times in the next 10-year plan. ``I have been saying for long that politics should not come into sports. If we can go to India and play against them I can't see any reason why India cannot do the same,'' Tauqir said.

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Section  : Sport
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