Decision to play Pakistan with BCCI: Uma Bharati

New Delhi, Aug 2: Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti today said it was for the cricket board (BCCI) to decide whether or not India should p...

New Delhi, Aug 2: Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti today said it was for the cricket board (BCCI) to decide whether or not India should play Pakistan, and that government had no role in the matter. “Cricket is not in our control,” Bharti told Aaj Tak, a TV news programme.

“The cricket board must decide whether to play Pakistan or not,” she said adding, “BCCI, however, cannot overlook public sentiments” in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict. Bharti said she did receive a request from BCCI to decide on the annual Indo-Pak one-day series in Toronto, but said this was not within the ambit of her department and she had forwarded it to the External Affairs Ministry.

Sahara flays Dalmiya

Lucknow: Sahara India today denied having any discussion with its marketing agents over the holding of the annual India-Pakistan cricket series in Toronto and criticised International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya for accusing the company of “double standards”.

Story continues below this ad

Stating that there was no questionof holding the cup, Sahara India Managing Director Subrata Roy, in a statement, accused the ICC president of mishandling such a sensitive issue “based on one incorrect letter from an ad agency.”

No fitness test likely for Azhar

Calcutta: Deposed Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin may not have to undertake a board-conducted fitness test if his medical fitness certificate was given by a reputed doctor.

“The Board may consider his case if the medical certificate was given by a reputed doctor like Anant Joshi. We will have to see,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Raj Singh Dungarpur told reporters today. Dungarpur said Azhar would submit his medical fitness certificate on August five.

Asked whether it will be too late for him to undertake a fitness test if the board desired since the selection committee meeting was slated for August six, he said, “it depends on the medical certificate. We will decide later.” Cricketing ties with Pakistan in the wake of the Kargilconflict and India’s performance in the World Cup are among the host of issues to be discussed in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) working committee meeting here tomorrow.

Story continues below this ad

The forthcoming international calendar featuring India would also be discussed.

PM Modi offers condolences, Kurnool bus fire tragedy

PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for families of victims, Rs 50,000 for injured

India31 min ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday expresses deep condolences to those affected in the Kurnool bus fire tragedy that claimed lives of at least 12 people. He also offered an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF that would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS