BCCI asks Pakistan to reconsider Ahmedabad boycott

The Indian government has asked Pakistan to reconsider their decision of not playing a game at Ahmedabad during the tour of India which starts later this month. According to the itinerary, Pakistan were supposed to play a Test there, but the PCB objected to the venue after a visit by their security team.

"The ministry of external affairs has written to Pakistan's foreign ministry asking them to reconsider the decision," Rajiv Shukla, the vice-president of the BCCI, told Press Trust of India. "The government has told Pakistan that it is committed to providing full security and did not envisage any problem with the match being played in Ahmedabad." Shukla also confirmed that the Pakistan board had no reservations about playing at any of the other venues on the itinerary.

Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan board, had earlier asked for Ahmedabad to be struck off the list of venues. "Our reservations are based on political reasons. Since our objections are politically based, we thought it better to completely ignore the venue instead of agreeing to play the shorter version of the game there." Certain sections of the media have reported that the Test may be shifted to Chennai, the venue where Pakistan recorded a memorable Test win on their previous tour, in 1998-99.

Abbas Zaidi, the PCB director, insisted that the disagreement over Ahmedabad would not jeopardise the tour itself. "We will be talking to the Indian board on Monday [February 7] to make them understand our point of view," he told Mid Day. "At the same time I don't think there is a possibility of the tour being affected since both countries are keen for it to be held."

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) is going ahead with their preparations for the Test. Narhari Amin, the GCA president told PTI: "We have not got any official intimation about PCB not wanting to play in Ahmedabad, and have only heard this through media reports. We are still hopeful that we will be given the chance to host a match. Our preparations are still on."