KARACHI, 19 February 2005 — Pakistan have agreed to play a one-day international in Ahmedabad after refusing to play a test in the Indian city, a Pakistan cricket official said yesterday.
India scrapped Ahmedabad as a test venue on Thursday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised security concerns but proposed an extra sixth one-day game as a compromise.
Ahmedabad witnessed some of India’s worst religious riots in 2002, when around 2,000 people died. “We are very happy with the positive response of the Indian board to our concerns...we had to respond similarly to their proposal of the additional ODI,” PCB Director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters yesterday. “Everything is now on course for the tour to be held on schedule although the revised itinerary would be announced in the next 24 hours.”
Zaidi said Pakistan had also accepted the Indian board’s request to delay the tour by a few days for logistical reasons.
The BCCI is yet to tie up telecast rights for the series because of a court dispute.
Zaidi said Pakistan was confident India would provide tight security arrangements for their players in Ahmedabad. “We feel it is more feasible to play a one-dayer instead of a test match on this stage,” he added.
Pakistan, on their first Test tour of India for six years, were scheduled to play three tests and five one-dayers.
The initial five one-dayers have been set for Cochin, Vishakapatnam, New Delhi, Jamshedpur and Kanpur.
Pakistan Pick New Manager
for India Tour
Pakistan yesterday brought in a new manager for its cricket team ahead of a high-profile tour of India, the first in six years, officials said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave no reason for replacing Haroon Rasheed with new manager Salim Altaf but it follows Pakistan’s dismal performance in Australia and alleged indiscipline by team members.
“Considering the importance of the tour we have appointed Salim Altaf as manager and have relieved Rasheed of his duty,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told AFP.
Altaf, who was appointed PCB director of operations last month, played 21 Tests and six one-day internationals between 1967 to 1978 as a right arm fast bowler and was also team manager during the Asia Cup in Sharjah in 1995.
Asad Mustafa will be the assistant manager.
Injured Shoaib Akhtar Pulls Out
of Pakistan’s India Tour
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar pulled out of Pakistan’s upcoming tour of India yesterday saying it would take him at least a month to recover from a hamstring injury.
“I am disappointed to say that I have pulled out of the tour of India because my hamstring injury would take another four to five weeks and I don’t want to play half fit,” Akhtar told AFP.
His pull-out will further weaken a depleted Pakistan bowling attack with two other frontline pacemen, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, already ruled out of Pakistan’s first tour of India in six years.
He denied the decision was linked to a $500 fine handed down by the PCB. “No, I have nothing to say on the penalties, I don’t want to have breakdowns on the tour,” said Akhtar.
