PCB chief blasts Indian government

Pakistan Cricket Board chief General Tauqir Zia, speaking to the media in Karachi on Sunday, deplored the Indian government's interference in cricket, and suggested that the government should keep out of BCCI affairs so that the people of South Asia could enjoy the game they love.

The comment came in the wake of a directive by Sports Minister Suhkdev Singh Dhindsa, asking the BCCI to pull out of the bilateral annual tournament in Toronto for the 'Friendship Cup', sponsored by Sahara India.

"The Indian government is involved in their cricket and that is disappointing," General Zia said. "They should have taken public opinion into account before deciding not to play against Pakistan.

"India has played so much cricket against us recently and now they have brought the Kashmir issue into cricket. It's a wrong impression that Pakistan is involved in the killings."

Zia said the pullout was damaging for Asian cricket. "How can you develop the game in Asia when two out of four countries do not play each other?," he asked.

Zia said that irrespective of the conditions, Pakistan would never contemplate ending ties with India. "We want to continue cricketing ties and hope the Indian team will tour Pakistan," he said, in a reference to a proposed Test tour by India later this year.

If it comes off, this will be the first full tour of Pakistan by an Indian team in 11 years.

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