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To play Pakistan or not

Uncertainty looms over India's tours to Toronto and Australia, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India today chose to put the ball in the government's court, saying it would abide by its policy with regard to playing against Pakistan, in view of the Kargil conflict.

The government, meanwhile, has left it to the BCCI's discretion whether to play against Pakistan or not.

After its working committee meeting in Calcutta today, the BCCI, in a statement, said, ''We have resolved to abide strictly by the government's policy and decision regarding the Indian team's visit to Toronto and Australia.''

BCCI secretary J Y Lele said the board had already approached the government's concerned ministries and sought their guidance and permission for the team's participation, but is yet to receive any note from the government.

Yesterday, Union deputy sports minister Uma Bharati, in an interview to a private television channel, had categorically said that the government was not the cricketing authority of the country and it was left to the BCCI to take decisions regarding the tours to Australia and Canada.

When asked to comment on the government's view, Lele said, ''Let the government write a letter to us.''

The board also dropped proceedings against Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Robin Singh for going to media soon after India's debacle in the World Cup.

Lele said the board was satisfied with the written explanations of Ganguly and Dravid, while Robin Singh was advised to refrain from making such statements in future.

The BCCI also condemned Sahara India, the sponsor of the Toronto series between India and Pakistan, for allegedly interfering with their activities.

"The working committee has decided to ask the concerned sponsor not to comment out of turn and restrict their role to sponsorship, which they perform for commercial gains,'' the statement said.

The working committee meeting, presided by Raj Singh Dungarpur, also approved the 1999-2000 domestic programme which will be released soon at the next meeting in Mumbai.

Regarding television rights for Indian cricket, Lele said the board has decided to offer them to a channel which has adequate networks and large viewers.

Lele also informed that former captain Mohammad Azharuddin would soon produce a fitness certificate and on the basis of it the board would discuss his selection.

A cricketing academy at Bangalore with an initial fund of Rs 3 crore is to be established, Lele announced.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya said he did not have any time to continue with a ''useless debate'' which the centred around a sponsor and its marketing agent.

Reacting to the fresh allegations made by Subrata Roy, the managing director of Sahara India, Dalmiya observed that that is a matter between Sahara India and their marketing agent. "Whatever Mr Roy was saying was neither relevant nor had any substance," he added.

Dalmiya said it was an issue between the organisers, the board of the host country and the participating boards. As the issue involved is sensitive, he felt it should be guided by the decisions of the concerned governments.

''The sponsor has no role whatsoever to play and they should not try to create it as a platform for their publicity,'' Dalmiya declared.

UNI