Uncertainty is the name of the game
Will India take part in the Sahara Cup in Toronto
Partab Ramchand
07-Aug-2000
Will India take part in the Sahara Cup in Toronto? Will the government
give its clearance? With the announcement on Monday that the selection
committee meeting, scheduled to be held on August 10 has been put off
indefinitely, a dark cloud of uncertainty looms large over India's
participation.
The Sahara Cup was started amidst great fanfare and excitement in
1996. It was originally scheduled to be a five year event. But last
year India, while making the trip to Toronto, did not play Pakistan in
the wake of the Kargil crisis. Instead, India and Pakistan both played
three matches each against West Indies for the DMC Trophy.
Events this year too were not very encouraging. First the match fixing
scandal broke out in April and India and Pakistan were in the thick of
it. This was followed by the income tax raids on the premises of some
prominent Indian players and the Indian coach Kapil Dev. As if all
this was not enough, the recent killings in Kashmir has now hardened
public opinion against India playing Pakistan. Just the other day
former Indian cricketer turned MP Kirti Azad came out strongly against
India playing Pakistan. And last week, Sports Minister SS Dhindsa said
that India's participation in Toronto will be reviewed. ``We have not
yet taken a final decision. But we are aware of the sentiments of the
people after the recent large scale killings in Kashmir. While
examining the issue, I will keep in mind the sentiments of the
people,'' Dhindsa told a website.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, as it routinely does,
applied some time back to the government for clearance of the Toronto
trip. It has yet to get the green signal. Sometimes these routine
requests are met with instantly but if they are not, then it can be
taken that the government is having second thoughts. This is clearly
borne out by Dhindsa's statement.
The BCCI, having to go ahead with its schedule, announced that the
team for the Sahara Cup would be picked on August 10. They could not
have anticipated the events in Kashmir - and the subsequent delaying
of the government clearance. Also the match fixing scandal is far from
over. The CBI is still in the midst of its inquiry while the income
tax officials are continuing with their questioning. So the question
mark still remains over the players allegedly involved.
With so many uncertain factors, it was always on the cards that the
BCCI would postpone the selection process. Now the selection meeting
will be held only after the board gets the government
clearance. Whether it will be able to obtain that is, of course, a
moot point.