India urges Pakistan to reconsider decision on Ahmedabad
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

NEW DELHI (India): India on Sunday asked Pakistan to reconsider their decision regarding Test match in Ahmedabad during the upcoming cricket series.

"The Ministry of External Affairs has written to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry asking them to reconsider the decision," BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla was quoted as having said while talking to Press Trust of India here.

Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier sent a letter to Board of Control for Cricket in India asking to consider the shifting of Test match from Ahmedabad to some other venue.

"The Government has told Pakistan that it is committed to providing full security and did not envisage any problem with the match being played in Ahmedabad," he said.

The request was made following a one-hour meeting that External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh held with the BCCI Vice-president at his residence last night, said a news report.

"Barring Ahmedabad, the Pakistan Cricket Board has no reservation over other venues," Shukla said and added, all communications were being made at the government level and the itinerary for the tour, slated to begin on Feb 25, would be finalised in the next few days.

BCCI, Indian Govt mulling different options  

BCCI and the Central Indian government are mulling different options including Chennai after Pakistan Cricket Board asked BCCI to consider shifting of Test match in upcoming series from Ahmedabad to some other venue.

BCCI is engaged in discussions with the Union Home ministry after PCB wrote to counterpart organization regarding Test match at Ahmedabad and expected to take a decision soon, according to Board President Ranbir Singh Mahendra.

"All the issues would be worked out by the BCCI in consultation with the Union Home Ministry," Mahendra was quoted as saying.

The Indian Government and the Cricket Board are said to be against making it a prestige issue and one of the options included requesting Pakistan to review their stand, said a news report.

On the basis of report given by the security assessment team that recently visited India, the PCB has apparently expressed its preference to play in Chennai, added the report.

BCCI Joint Secretary Goutam Dasgupta said in Kolkata that the Board would go by the Government's advice on this issue.

A decision on the issue would be taken by the BCCI Working Committee meeting on February 16 in New Delhi where the itinerary of Pakistan's tour would be finalised, he added.

The Pakistan cricket team is slated to arrive here on February 25 to play three Tests and five-one dayers.●