The Hindu : Peshawar & Karachi schedule depends on Azad's report

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Peshawar & Karachi schedule depends on Azad's report

MUMBAI, FEB. 17. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jt. Secretary Prof. Ratnakar Shetty said that facilities at six venues in Pakistan are excellent and that he's most impressed by the stadium at Multan. "It's as good as Mohali. Pakistan's Cricket Academy at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore is superb. There is a separate residential block for trainees and executives and excellent outdoor and indoor nets. It's brilliant.''

Prof. Shetty, the Board's Director of Communications, Amrit Mathur and a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Home, Yashovardhan Azad spent a week in Pakistan inspecting facilities, logistics and security aspects of the forthcoming tour of an Indian cricket team and play a Test series there. Prof. Shetty and Mathur will meet the BCCI President Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata on Friday and submit a report and discuss several aspects of the tour.

According to Prof. Shetty the players' dressing rooms and Media Centres are top class. '' In almost all the grounds, there are designated stands for children, ladies and senior citizens.''

Prof. Shetty refused to make his observations on the prospect of the Indian team playing Test matches at Karachi and Peshawar. "That will depend entirely on Mr. Yashovardhan Azad's report on the security aspect,'' he said.

Reports from Pakistan suggested that Mr. Azad had expressed reservations about the team playing Test matches at Karachi and Peshawar as it would necessitate the team to stay put at Sindh Province and North West Frontier for a week. Once Mr. Azad puts his views in black and white, the BCCI will have to persuade the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to drop Karachi and Peshawar. The PCB wants the three Tests to be played at Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar.

Our Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport