Pakistan left fuming after India pull-out
Posted on Dec 19, 2008 at 17:37 | Updated Dec 20, 2008 at 00:10
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New Delhi: Sri Lanka have agreed to replace India for a full tour of Pakistan in January and February. But that has done little to calm the anger in the cricket community across the border, which has lashed out at India for deciding against touring.
The panic in the PCB corridors has been put to rest now with their plan B falling into place. Sri Lanka has accepted Pakistan's proposal of playing three Tests, three one-dayers and a T20 match. A big relief then with reports saying that they stood to lose over Rs 1.5 billion after India's pull-out. The PCB is hoping to cut their losses with the hastily organised series against Sri Lanka.
"Sri Lanka Cricket president Arjuna Ranatunga has given his concurrence," senior PCB official Saleem Altaf said. "We have sent them a revised itinerary and hopefully in a day or two we get a go-ahead."
Pakistan's players desperately need a series. They haven't played any Test cricket for over a year now, and that frustration was seen to be spilling over.
"It's a very negative decision and it sends out a negative message," all-rounder Shahid Afridi said. "Pakistan wants to maintain good relations with India and sports is a platform to build good relationships. But this decision will only harm the relationship further."
While the Indian cricket community has whole-heartedly welcomed the Government's decision, in Pakistan there has been strong condemnation. Some former players had already called on the PCB to snap ties with India and in a TV interview, former captain Imran Khan accused India of double standards.
"This will not help build up trust between the two countries and it is a wrong decision by the Indians," Khan said. "While deciding on the Pakistan tour they should have thought in similar fashion as England did in case of India. The cancellation of the series is not good for cricket in the region."
Several Pakistani players have contracts with IPL teams. And many wonder if that will be the next casualty. Will they be welcome in India in four months' time when the second edition of the tournament kicks off?
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