Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi's reported fall-out with Abu Dhabi Cricket Council (ADCC) officials during the recent two-match one-day series against Pakistan is believed to be the reason behind a proposed tri-series being shelved.
According to Pakistan media reports, Modi created a scene during the first match between Pakistan and India on April 18, leaving many government officials fuming. The ADCC, it is learnt, is upset with the Indian Board after the incident.
"Since President Pervez Musharraf and other dignitaries attended that first game the security was on a high alert.
"Modi was stopped by security officials when he came to the stadium, and after being made to wait for a while he got frustrated and angry and made some unpleasant remarks, about the organisers and Sheikhs, which were conveyed to them," a Pakistan Cricket Board source was quoted as saying by The News on Thursday.
"It was not a pleasant scene at all and it got worse when the organisers got to know about Modi's behaviour. He was even told by his Board president, Sharad Pawar, not to go to the area of the prize distribution ceremony after the second game," the source claimed.
"The Abu Dhabi people, apparently, have taken serious note of the incident and they've conveyed to the Indian Board that they are not keen to welcome the Indian team anymore, which is one reason why this idea of having a tri-series has been shelved for a while now."
The source said the issue got so serious that the Indian Board rushed I S Bindra, its senior official, to Abu Dhabi to pacify the organisers and top officials.
On reports about Pakistan's refusal to play in the tournament, the source said, "It was not possible for the organisers to host any tournament in September, when it would be Ramzan and the weather is very hot in Abu Dhabi.
"But it is also a fact that the Pakistan Cricket Board has given in writing to the ADCC chief patron that they'll support any event in Abu Dhabi by participating in it," the source added.
He said it was surprising that in this background Shaharyar Khan should now back out of playing in Abu Dhabi later this year.
