The Hindu : BCCI hails decision

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

BCCI hails decision

By Our Special Correspondent

The BCCI President, Jagmohan Dalmiya.

KOLKATA, FEB. 14. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday welcomed the `cricket friendly' decision of the central government to clear the Indian team's tour of Pakistan.

"The clearance has come for the full tour,'' said Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, President BCCI, during a packed media conference. "I envisage an excellent tour from the cricket point of view and hope it will strengthen the bond of friendship between the people of the two nations.''

He said one of the primary concerns was the safety and security of the players and team officials. "Since the union government has cleared the tour, the major concern of safety and security is now put to rest and the tour is definitely on,'' Mr. Dalmiya said. "The points that are now to be sorted out are mainly related to the game, tour itinerary and logistics so that the players are physically and psychologically comfortable especially after the long tour of Australia.''

The Board chief said the process of finalising the tour would begin after the three-member delegation returned to India next week. The delegation, comprising the Board Joint Secretary, Mr. Ratnakar Shetty, Director of Communications, Mr. Amrit Mathur, and Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, IG, VIP security division, ministry of Home Affairs, which is on the last lap of its tour of Pakistan, should be back in two to three days.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly reacted favourably to the news of government clearing the trip. "Our primary concern was security during the trip. Now that the tour has been cleared it means the government has taken every thing into account before giving the green signal. We should not have any more worry on this count,'' he said.

Mr. Dalmiya, when asked whether all top-notch players would be available for the tour, said, "we are going to play cricket, not wage war. Of course, all will be touring Pakistan,'' he asserted.

India will be touring Pakistan after 14 years and will play three Tests and five one-day internationals. The tour is to begin early next month. Mr. Dalmiya, who is leaving for London to attend an ICC meeting this weekend, has promised to get back in the middle of next week with more details on the tour.

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