MELBOURNE, 29 December 2003 — India team manager Shivlal Yadav said yesterday a report that the side’s tour of Pakistan in February was in doubt because of a player revolt over security issues was completely untrue.
“It’s all rubbish,” Yadav told Reuters at Melbourne Cricket Ground during the third day’s play of the third Test against Australia.
“There is no truth in it.”
The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed optimism on Saturday that the Indian team’s tour to Pakistan would not be derailed following security concerns after the suicide bomb attempt on President Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi. “What happened on Thursday is of grave concern to everyone and bad for the country. But I remain optimistic that if the SAARC conference goes ahead on schedule than the Indian tour will also be held as planned,” Shaharyar Khan told a news conference in Karachi.
Reports in the Indian newspaper Mid-Day said on Saturday the Indian players currently touring Australia had taken a unanimous decision not to tour Pakistan in February 2004 in view of security threats in Pakistan.
The newspaper reported that the players, who had been discussing the issue for the last two days, took their final decision in the dressing room at the end of the opening day’s play in the third Test against Australia.
A letter that records the players’ concerns and their resolve not to go is likely to be faxed to President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India Jagmohan Dalmiya, the report said from Melbourne.
“No such letter has been sent anywhere. Nobody has discussed this at all,” Yadav said. Shaharyar said he was aware of the concern caused by the incident on Thursday and would be holding talks with Indian board officials.
