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One stone and tour could be off

Last updated on: February 26, 2004 17:10 IST
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Pakistan are concerned that India could call off their Test tour next month at the first hint of crowd trouble.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Ramiz Raja said on Thursday that the board had asked their Indian counterparts to amend a memorandum of understanding which included a condition allowing India's players to return home if there was an off-field incident.

"We have asked them to soften this clause, since it also states that in the condition of an aborted tour on security grounds the Pakistan board cannot claim any compensation from them, as per International Cricket Council rules," Raja said.

"If the tour is called off under any pretext it will be disastrous for Pakistan cricket."

India are due to arrive on March 10 for their first Test tour of Pakistan in 14 years following years of political tension between the two countries.

India's players have already expressed security concerns over the visit. They have also refused to play Tests in the volatile cities of Karachi and Peshawar.

The Indian board refused to respond to Raja's comments. President Jagmohan Dalmiya said: "It is a board document, not a public one. There will be several things which might be changed. This (type of discussion) happens between all boards."

India visited Pakistan in 1997, when the first of three one-dayers at Karachi was interrupted by a stone throwing incidents which led to the Indian players leaving the field. On their last Test tour a man ran on to the field threatening India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Several teams have expressed concerns over visiting Pakistan after New Zealand returned home during a 2002 Test match in Karachi after a bomb blast outside their team hotel killed 14 people.

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Source: REUTERS
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