India tour off - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

India tour off

India's tour of Pakistan, scheduled for January and February next year, has been called off, the Indian government have confirmed.

The announcement that India would not travel came from sports minister MS Gill in parliament as relations between the neighbouring countries continues to deteriorate following the Mumbai terror attacks.

BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty confirmed the cricket board have been notified about the government's decision although he did not rule out the matches going ahead at a neutral venue.

"No decision has been made on playing Pakistan at a neutral venue," Shetty said. "We have not planned an alternative tour as yet."

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla confirmed: "Due to the current political scenario and atmosphere in the country, the government has instructed us to call off the tour.

"The proposed tour of India to Pakistan has been called off.

"The BCCI president has already made it clear that we would go by the government's decision on the tour.

"Keeping the policy decision in mind, the tour stands cancelled."

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