Vikram Verma, the Indian sports minister, has clarified that a decision is yet to be taken on the immediate resumption of cricket with Pakistan. He told an Indian news agency: "Things will not happen overnight. Relations will have to improve overall."
A news report had yesterday quoted sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saying that Atal Behari Vajpayee, India's Prime Minister, had approved the resumption of cricketing ties. It further said that an official announcement was expected within the next week, following a slight political thaw in the acrimonious relations between India and Pakistan. But Verma said that the Indian Prime Minister is yet to decide on the matter.
Verma said that besides his ministry, the external affairs and home ministries too would be involved in the decision. The BCCI had formally applied to the Indian government for resuming bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.
Pakistan are due to tour India, as per the ICC calendar, in February 2004. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are insisting that India show its good faith by first playing in Pakistan.
Tauqir Zia, chief executive of the PCB, said: "We are planning to host India in February 2004 and we have approached the International Cricket Council in this regard."
The Asia Cup, which has already been postponed twice, might also finally take place. Syed Ashraful Huq, the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) chief executive, said: "We are hoping to host the Asia Cup in the first week of April 2004. It may even be held in Pakistan, the original venue, instead of Sri Lanka ... but it all depends on a lot of things."
Huq added: "We will also try to organise an ice-breaking match in September this year – provided India allows its team to play against Pakistan."
