Dalmiya to press for resumption of cricket with Pak

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya will meet Sports Minister Uma Bharti and other government officials next week to discuss resumption of cricketing ties with Pakistan, following the International Cricket Council's strong view on India's continued refusal to play with its neighbour.

"The matter was discussed in the executive board meeting in Cape Town. I will be meeting government officials sometime next week to know their views," Dalmiya told a press conference in Kolkata on Saturday.

The ICC had taken a strong view of India's continued refusal to play cricket against Pakistan and threatened severe action if the cricket-specific policy is not changed.

Some members of the executive board even suggested harsh punishment to the Indian board for repeatedly refusing to play against Pakistan.

Dalmiya said England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Lord Ian MacLaurin raised the point at the meeting and wanted all other countries to severe cricketing ties with India for refusing to play Pakistan for such a long time.

"He (MacLaurin) wanted to know the rationale behind allowing ties in all other sports with Pakistan, except cricket. We had to express our helplessness on the issue," Dalmiya said.

Dalmiya said the executive board expressed concern why only the game of cricket is being singled out by the Indian side while other sports are played with Pakistan.

Apart from England, New Zealand also proposed a hefty financial penalty on India for refusing to play against Pakistan, Dalmiya said.

"The executive board allowed me some time to go back and talk to government officials and convey the feelings of the ICC members," he added.

He said the executive board also empowered ICC chairman Malcolm Gray and chief executive Malcolm Speed to meet Indian officials to break the deadlock.

Dalmiya said the executive board had also decided to chalk out a ten-year fixture programme for all Test-playing nations and countries not honouring their contractual obligations would be fined upto $2 million.

The BCCI impressed upon the members to incorporate the 'force majeure' clause in the agreement so that India was not subjected to monetary fines in case the government refuses permission.

"All the countries agreed to our point and the force majeure clause has been added in the draft agreement. All the countries will be signing the agreement soon," he said.

Dalmiya said India will sign the agreement only after he has discussions with the government.

He said the South African board wanted to know whether the intervention of former South African president Nelson Mandela could help in resumption of Indo-Pakistan cricketing ties.

"I will first talk to the governmnent and know their views. If required, the BCCI may call an emergency meeting to discuss the issue," he added.

Mail Cricket Editor