In an apparent damage-control exercise, Pakistan Cricket Board today did a volte face on its reservations over playing a match in Ahmedabad during the forthcoming tour saying these were not due to political reasons but based on security concerns. Terming reports that it did not not want to play a match in the capital city of Gujarat due to political reasons as “speculative”, the PCB said in a statement that it made the decision on Ahmedabad based on the report submitted by its venue assessment team that visited India last month. “With reference to speculative reports regarding the choice of venues for Pakistan’s forthcoming tour of India, the PCB hereby clarifies that after receiving the report of the security team that recently visited India, the PCB has requested BCCI to change the venue of the second Test from Ahmedabad to any other venue of Test status in India on grounds of security,” the PCB statement said here. “In making the request, PCB wished to preserve and strengthen the bilateral relations that have been enhanced at the public and government levels after the resumption of cricketing series between the two countries,” it added. “PCB contradicts reports suggesting any motive other than security in making this request,’’ the statement said. “PCB has all along maintained that the venues issue should be amicably resolved between the two boards and that it was the privilege of the host country to select centres for the matches.” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had said yesterday that the board had reservations over playing any match in Ahmedabad due to “political reasons”.
