Pakistan threaten India
with "no play" stance

The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday it will sever cricketing relations with India if its traditional rivals withdraw from next month's triangular tournament in Sharjah.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board policy on India is absolutely clear: If India doesn't want to play Pakistan we are not interested in playing them either," said PCB director Munawwar Rana.

"That also means that we will not cross borders if the International Cricket Council allocates next year's knockout tournament to India."

The Indian government has yet to decide whether to let its national team travel to Sharjah for the one-day tournament, to be played between April 8 and 20. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the other competing teams.

Doubts over India's participation arose after the government cancelled a Test tour of Pakistan late last year because of political tension.

The uncertainty increased after New Delhi spurned Pakistan's offer of a one-day series in Sharjah to raise funds for Indian earthquake victims.

PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said Pakistan would still travel to Sharjah and hoped India would allow its team to attend.

"We will fulfil our commitment by playing in Sharjah irrespective of the opponents or number of participating teams," Zia, who is also chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, said.

"The ball is still in the Indian government's court. We are hoping that they change their stand."

ICC president Malcolm Gray is in India hoping to convince New Delhi officials to show flexibility in their approach, particularly towards Pakistan. He has set an April 30 deadline for New Delhi to spell out its sports policy before India is confirmed as the host nation for the ICC's 2002 knockout tournament.

Pakistan last played India in January 2000.

Mail Cricket Editor