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Pakistan government to decide fate of India tour, board says
AFP
14 January 1999
KARACHI, Jan 14 (AFP) - The Pakistan government will make the final
decision on whether to go ahead with a cricket tour of India scheduled
for this month following threats from Hindu militants, Pakistan
cricket chief Khalid Mahmood said Thursday.
``The decision has now gone beyond the limits of the cricket board and
the fate will now be decided by the Pakistan government,'' he said on
return from the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in New
Zealand.
``We want the tour to go ahead but security is the prime priority and
it's up to the Indian Government to give our players hundred per cent
safe security,'' the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman said.
After Hindu militants last week dug up the pitch in New Delhi where
the first Test was to have been played, Pakistan cricket authorities
sent a special envoy to assess the situation.
``Brigadier Saeed Rafi is in India, he is a security specialist and he
will enlighten us about the situation,'' said Mahmood.
The final decision will be taken in the light of Rafi's report, he
said.
The Pakistani cricket team is scheduled to arrive in India on January
21 for its first Test series on Indian soil for 12 years. But Hindu
zealots have threatened to sabotage the games to protest against
Pakistan's alleged support for Indian insurgents.
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