India will not participate in the Sharjah triangular cricket tournament after the Government on Sunday in New Delhi expressed its reservations over the team playing at non-regular venues.

The governement has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of its decision refusing permission for the team to participate in the tournament, also featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which was to start next week.

An official release said that "Government has decided, after careful consideration, that Indian cricket team should not participate in cricket tournaments at non-regular venues such as Sharjah, Singapore, Toronto etc, for at least three years. BCCI has accordingly been informed that Indian cricket team should not participate in the forthcoming tournament in Sharjah commencing from April 8, 2001."

© PTI