The Hindu : Front Page : Pakistan Cricket Board's reply likely today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

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Pakistan Cricket Board's reply likely today

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 17. The PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan, denied reports that Pakistan had agreed to play an additional one-dayer at Ahmedabad and maintained that the Board had not received any proposal from the BCCI.

Reacting to news reports in a section of the electronic media, Mr. Khan said the question of Pakistan consenting to play at Ahmedabad did not arise when such a proposal had not been made by the BCCI.

However, there were suggestions that the PCB might agree to a one-day match at Ahmedabad as it was one of the several options under consideration. A formal decision is expected tomorrow after Mr. Khan meets the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf.

"Yes, we have heard that Ahmedabad has been scrapped but we have not received any official communication. I think we will be better placed to give any reaction after receiving the revised itinerary," the PCB's Director (media), Abbas Zaidi, told reporters in Lahore.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Khan met the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, here over breakfast in a bid to sort out the dispute over Pakistan's refusal to play at Ahmedabad. He quoted Mr. Singh as saying that sports and politics should be kept apart and said the question of the venues should not be decided by the Governments but by the two Boards. Mr. Khan said that Mr. Singh had agreed that a postponement of the tour should not be an option as both countries were willing to play.

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