India should not play in Sharjah,
Toronto, Singapore: Govt
India will not participate in the Sharjah triangular cricket tournament after the government on Sunday expressed its reservations over the team playing at non-regular venues.
The government has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India of its decision refusing permission to the team to participate in the tournament, also featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which was to start in the second week of April.
"Government has decided, after careful consideration, that the Indian cricket team should not participate in cricket tournaments at non-regular venues such as Sharjah, Singapore, Toronto etc, for at least three years," an official release said in New Delhi on Sunday.
"BCCI has accordingly been informed that the Indian cricket team should not participate in the forthcoming tournament in Sharjah commencing from April 8, 2001," the release said.
UNI adds:
BCCI president A C Muthiah on Sunday said the Board would accept and abide by the Union government's decision.
''Since this seems to be the government's policy, the Board will accept and abide by it,'' he said.
The losers would be the former test cricketers who were nominated as beneficiaries of the tournament.
In view of the decision, the BCCI would make alternative arrangements to help the cricketers, he added.
Mail Cricket Editor
