NEW DELHI, AUGUST 10: It was inevitable and on the cards. But now it's official. India today pulled out of the Sahara Cup series for the second year in a row, putting a question mark on the very future of the event. The immediate provocation, as expected, was the Indian government's view that Pakistan was abetting terrorist activities in Kashmir. The massacre of more than a 100 people a few days back folowed by the blasts in Srinagar today sealed the fate of the cricket event. The Sports Minister, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, it is learnt discussed the matter this morning with senior leaders in the government, including the Home Ministry. "How can we play a friendship series against Pakistan, when that country is indulging in mayhem in Kashmir?" Dhindsa asked. Dhindsa has for sometime been saying that India should not play against Pakistan. When the Board announced a date - August 19 - for the selection of the team, Dhindsa said that government "would not be hustled" into sending a team. "The whole nation is upset about the massacre in Kashmir by Pakistani agents and under these circumstances, the government is left with no alternative but not to approve the proposal sent by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)," the minister said. The five-match series which was introduced in 1996, was to be held in Toronto from September 9 to 17. India and Pakistan played three series, in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and then in 1999, Indian government did not give the Cricket Board permission to play Pakistan in one-to-one series. India and Pakistan both played three-match series against West Indies at the same venue. Today's decision not to send a team to Toronto also effectively seals the fate of the proposed Test series between the two countries later this year. The two cricket Boards had planned a Test series and were working out plans for India to tour Pakistan. The Indian Cricket Board may be disappointed at the government decision, but it also means that they avoid a ticklich problem, at least for the time being. The Board has been under pressure to drop players like former captain, Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and even coach Kapil Dev, till such time investigations against them are not complete and their innocence proved. The Board at the same time has been reluctant to do so, for the next logical step could be drop or sack Board members who have been raided and against whom investigations have been initiated. Board President, AC Muthaiah has maintained that the players are all innocent till proven guilty, and if they are guilty the Board will ban them for life.
