Jehad’s not cricket, says India, calls off tour

The mood within the establishment, across South Block, the Prime Minister’s Office — and other ministries involved in the decision such as the Ministry for Sports — remains extremely hardline over Pakistan. With one stroke, New Delhi has put at rest speculation over recent differences within the Government about its Pakistan policy since Kargil.

Elaborating on the Government’s decision, Minister for Sports Uma Bharti said: “Under the existing bilateral relations, no tour can be undertaken by the Indian cricket team to that country.”

According to the official spokesman of the MEA, “Pakistan’s hostile propaganda and their constant calls for jehad against India by the establishment as well as extremist groups has created an environment in that country where a regular tour of Pakistan at this stage by the Indian cricket team is inappropriate.”

The current deadlock in the US presidential election ensures that Washington at least is not about to take out a big stick and beat New Delhi with it.

The establishment feels that by the time the new President settles down in the White House it may be more than six months from now, much after the snow melts to welcome the new summer of 2001, and that would give it enough breathing space to change direction if it so wished.

In fact, the first reactions to Pakistan’s statement that it would not play India in any cricket match anywhere in the world is one of some amusement here. Sources said the “emotion and lack of reasonableness” in the Pakistani statement indicates, at first glance, a system under pressure in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s military ruler Gen. Musharraf was quoted as saying, “It is regrettable because by this decision they have mingled politics and sports, which is unsporting.”

India’s refusal to play Pakistan, is simply a case of increasing the pressure on that system. Politically, New Delhi has steadfastly refused to talk to Islamabad on any issue since Kargil, until cross-border terrorism either ceases or is reduced significantly. That mantra, cited often enough by both Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh and Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra in the past 15 months remains Government policy.

“India remains committed to the promotion of people to people and cultural contact with Pakistan,” the spokesman added. “It calls upon Pakistan to create a conducive climate which would enable India to have the confidence that the security and welfare of its team would be ensured and that a tour would serve positive purposes.”

Indian cricketers, who spoke to The Indian Express, gave mixed reactions. “It is a political decision, not a cricketing one,” said Bishen Singh Bedi. “Things in Pakistan aren’t any different from what we saw during the 1977-78 tour of that country. Although the Government decision was on expected lines, I disagree. Sports is the best medium to strengthen ties between neighbours. Aren’t the Englishmen touring Pakistan at present? Where’s the problem? Anyway, I think it will be a blessing in disguise for the Indian cricketers who have been going through a rough phase, notwithstanding the win over Bangladesh in Dhaka recently.”

Kirti Azad, on the other hand, welcomed the decision, saying “India has always been ahead for maintaining good relations with Pakistan. But they have not reciprocated in the same manner so far. We were the ones to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan. We took the initiative and started the Delhi-Lahore bus trip. And what do we get in return: Kargil war and Amarnath Yatra killings.

“It is not a question of sporting or political exchanges. What is the use of cultural exchanges when the other party is adamant and aggressive in nature and deeds. Their attitude hasn’t changed a bit. We still haven’t forgotten the day when our skipper Srikkanth was manhandled in Pakistan while the Pakistanis received a standing ovation in Chennai a couple of years ago. Under such circumstances, how can we have a tour of Pakistan?”

Board of Control for Cricket in India’s J Y Lele said: “The Board has not received anything from the Government as yet. Therefore, I do not want to comment on the reports.”

India unsporting: Pak
KARACHI: General Pervez Musharraf today described as “unsporting” India’s decision not to allow its cricket team to tour Pakistan, accusing it of mixing politics with sports. In Lahore, Pakistan cricket board chairman Gen Tauqir Zia threatened to boycott all matches with India. “This puts us in a position where we would like to review our relationship with India and may not play them even in offshore, tri-nations, one-day events,” he said. — AFP