Will India take part in the Sahara Cup in Toronto? Will the government give its clearance? With the announcement on Monday that the selection committee meeting, scheduled to be held on August 10 has been put off indefinitely, a dark cloud of uncertainty looms large over India's participation.

The Sahara Cup was started amidst great fanfare and excitement in 1996. It was originally scheduled to be a five year event. But last year India, while making the trip to Toronto, did not play Pakistan in the wake of the Kargil crisis. Instead, India and Pakistan both played three matches each against West Indies for the DMC Trophy.

Events this year too were not very encouraging. First the match fixing scandal broke out in April and India and Pakistan were in the thick of it. This was followed by the income tax raids on the premises of some prominent Indian players and the Indian coach Kapil Dev. As if all this was not enough, the recent killings in Kashmir has now hardened public opinion against India playing Pakistan. Just the other day former Indian cricketer turned MP Kirti Azad came out strongly against India playing Pakistan. And last week, Sports Minister SS Dhindsa said that India's participation in Toronto will be reviewed. ``We have not yet taken a final decision. But we are aware of the sentiments of the people after the recent large scale killings in Kashmir. While examining the issue, I will keep in mind the sentiments of the people,'' Dhindsa told a website.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, as it routinely does, applied some time back to the government for clearance of the Toronto trip. It has yet to get the green signal. Sometimes these routine requests are met with instantly but if they are not, then it can be taken that the government is having second thoughts. This is clearly borne out by Dhindsa's statement.

The BCCI, having to go ahead with its schedule, announced that the team for the Sahara Cup would be picked on August 10. They could not have anticipated the events in Kashmir - and the subsequent delaying of the government clearance. Also the match fixing scandal is far from over. The CBI is still in the midst of its inquiry while the income tax officials are continuing with their questioning. So the question mark still remains over the players allegedly involved.

With so many uncertain factors, it was always on the cards that the BCCI would postpone the selection process. Now the selection meeting will be held only after the board gets the government clearance. Whether it will be able to obtain that is, of course, a moot point.

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