Hindu nationalists urge Pakistan not to cancel cricket tour

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People's Party) of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the Pakistan team should go ahead with its programme following New Delhi's pledge to protect the players.

``After the government's assurance, Pakistan cricket team should go ahead with its tour of this country later this month,'' BJP spokesman K.L. Sharma told a news conference here.

The BJP's appeal followed reports that some Pakistani officials favoured cancelling the cricket team's tour of India after Hindu fanatics dug up a cricket pitch in New Delhi late Wednesday.

The tour, starting on January 21, will be Pakistan's first Test series on Indian soil in 12 years.

At a separate function, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee blamed ``a handful of people'' in India and Pakistan of trying to sabotage efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.

``Some people (in India) are adamant they will not let the cricket match being played in India,'' he said, without referring to any person or group by name.

Earlier Saturday, newspapers quoted Indian officials as saying that New Delhi had promised ``foolproof'' security for Pakistan's cricketers in India.

The top bureaucrat in the home ministry, B.P. Singh, said a federal panel would coordinate security with the police and other agencies of the states where the teams would play.

``The main task will be to ensure foolproof security to the Pakistani players - on the roads, on the playgrounds and wherever they go,'' he was quoted as saying by newspapers.

About 25 supporters of firebrand Hindu leader Bal Thackeray stormed New Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla stadium, the venue for the first Test, on Wednesday and dug up the pitch. Four of them were arrested.

``We have taken note of the developments ... and whatever is necessary will be done,'' Singh said, adding the foreign ministry was in ``constant'' touch with the Pakistani High Commission over the security arrangements.

The Pakistani team, who last played a Test on Indian soil in March 1987, are to arrive here January 21 for a two-Test series, the Asian Test championship opener against India and a triangular one-day series also featuring Sri Lanka.

In 1991, Hindu fanatics vandalised the pitch at Bombay's Wankhede stadium two days before Pakistan were to start a limited-overs series in India.

Pakistan cancelled that tour, and two more in 1993 and 1994, because of security fears. They played in India during the 1996 World Cup and the Independence Cup the following year without any problems.

On Saturday, a minor Indian political party urged Pakistan to play a match in cricket-crazy Bombay, which is ruled by the Hindu militant Shiv Sena party.

A Pakistan cricket official is to visit India next week to assess the situation.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, who viewed the damaged pitch Friday, said his government was concerned about the safety of the players.

``The Pakistan government wants the tour to go ahead as per schedule. But until we are satisfied with the security, I cannot commit anything,'' he said.