'ACC threat probably irked government'

The government's decision to deny the Indian cricket team permission to travel to Pakistan for the Asian Test Championship might have been prompted by the threat from the Asian Cricket Council, that it would go ahead with the tournament even without India's participation, according to Board of Control for Cricket in India president A C Muthiah.

"I suspect that the government was irked by the ACC threat, that the tournament would be held without India," Muthiah said.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, chairman of the Asian Cricket Foundation, which implements the ACC programmes, had said on August 16 that the championship would be held as scheduled even if India does not participate.

Muthiah, however, said he could not say what were the actual reasons for the government's decision.

"We do not know the exact reason for it and cannot react without knowing the reasons for non-clearance," he said.

"But we are at a loss to understand why the team has not been cleared for a multilateral tournament," he added.

In an earlier decision, the government had said it has no problems with the Indian team playing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments at 'regular venues'.

Muthiah said the BCCI will abide by the government guidelines in matters of foreign tours by the Indian team.

"For maintaining the sovereignty of the country, the board will abide by the government's decision," he said.

He was noncommittal on withdrawing from the ACC in case the tournament is held without India's participation.

"There have been such feelings among senior board members. All these matters of interest to Indian cricket will be discussed at the working committee meeting in Bombay this week and at the Annual General Meeting next month."

Mail Cricket Editor