The Hindu : India unlikely to accept Karachi, Peshawar as venues

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

Sport

Sport - Cricket

India unlikely to accept Karachi, Peshawar as venues

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 16. India is unlikely to accept Karachi and Peshawar as Test venues for the forthcoming tour to Pakistan on account of security reasons. According to sources in the Board, the decision would be taken during the course of the week. Karachi and Peshawar have been the problem areas in the itinerary planned by the Pakistan Cricket Board and India's objections had been conveyed through official channels recently.

The three-member Indian delegation to Pakistan — Board officials Messrs Ratnakar Shetty and Amrit Mathur — and security expert, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad returned home on Monday with the firm impression that Pakistan was ready to host the series.

Instead of Tests, India may agree to play one-day internationals at Karachi and Peshawar with Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad as the three venues for the Tests. Multan, hometown of Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, could be the compromise choice despite some reservations about this venue too considering the poor infrastructure in this town.

Peshawar is considered hostile towards Indians and the team's experience in Karachi in the past — violence during a one-day match in 1997 when Sachin Tendulkar led his team out and an attack on skipper K. Srikkanth in 1989 when his shirt was ripped off — have led to this impression regarding the safety factor of the players when playing and staying in Karachi and Peshawar.

The Indian players, having now reconciled themselves to the fact that they would have to tour Pakistan following the decision by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, are said to be reluctant to play even a three-day match in Karachi. According to sources, the team might leave on March 4 if the players agree to play a three-day fixture. Otherwise, the alternate date of departure could be March 8 with the first Test slated for March 11.

The Indian delegation visited all the venues finalised by the PCB — Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Multan and Faisalabad. Mr. Azad, elder brother of National selector Kirti Azad, alone studied the security aspect at the hotels and venues while Mr. Shetty and Mr. Mathur dealt with the cricketing matters such as dressing rooms, gymnasiums, practice areas and media facilities.

The itinerary is likely to be finalised by this weekend once Mr. Azad submits his report to the Board on Wednesday. The Board President, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, away to London to attend a meeting of the International Cricket Council, will return on Thursday and summon the concerned officials to discuss the nitty-gritty of the tour and the itinerary. The Indian team for the tour is likely to be picked on February 24.

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