Proposal for Pak tour with sports ministry

Onkar Singh

Union minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharti confirmed that her office received a proposal from the Board of Control for Cricket to travel to Pakistan for the Asian Test championship match between the two countries in September.

"My office has received a proposal from the Board for Control of Cricket in India on this matter. The proposal came in only two days ago and I will study the letter and send it to the external affairs ministry for further action," Bharti said.

Asked how soon could a decision be expected, she said she is merely a spokesperson on the subject and would communicate the decision as soon as the external affairs ministry made its decision.

"I have no powers to say anything on this matter. I am sending the proposal to the external affairs ministry; let them decide. I will tell the media the moment I hear from them," she added.

Minister for State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said he is in no position to comment on the issue without seeing the file.

"It would be premature to comment whether the government will allow the tour or not. Let the file reach us, then we will take a decision on it," he said.