The Hindu : Front Page : M.S. Gill against cricket team’s tour of Pakistan

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Saturday, Dec 13, 2008
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M.S. Gill against cricket team’s tour of Pakistan

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill on Friday virtually prompted the government not to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan next month.

Mr. Gill said the country’s team, under the prevailing circumstances, should not tour Pakistan. He, however, pointed out that the final decision on the subject rested with the government.

The Minister’s stance came even as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt was engaged in an exercise to save the tour. Mr. Butt had met the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket officials in India in Chennai.

India is to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals in Pakistan from January 6 to February 19.

In a statement, Mr. Gill observed out that Pakistan was involved in cross-border terrorism.

He said:

“People from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India. I have played cricket. I know the spirit of cricket. Cricket is not commerce. Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore immediately after?

“Sports contact is for enhancing friendship between human beings, above all, with neighbours. It requires those in authority in Pakistan to give a clear indication, satisfactory to the world, of doing everything possible, to prevent such murderous incursions and to root out the basis of it all.”

Gavaskar’s stand

On Thursday, the former captain, Sunil Gavaskar, said it was impossible for India to tour Pakistan because of the current situation.

Another former great Kapil Dev was also of the opinion that it was best left to the government to take a decision in this regard.

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