Indian cricket cries for help in ``hour of shame'' (19 January 1999)

19 January 1999

Indian cricket cries for help in "hour of shame"

AFP

BOMBAY, Jan 19 (AFP) - Indian cricket on Tuesday slammed an attack by Hindu militants on its headquarters in Bombay and urged the government to stand firm against fundamentalists opposed to Pakistan's upcoming tour.

"For the sake of cricket, I hope the tour goes on," said Sunil Dev, chief organiser of the second Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi next month.

"If we bow to vandalism now, India and Pakistan may never be able to play at home again. I am sure the government will ensure the tour goes ahead," he said.

Pakistan's first Test tour of India in 12 years, scheduled to start on Thursday, was put in jeopardy on Monday when suspected Hindu militants ransacked the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Bombay smashing office furniture, equipment and trophies.

The World Cup trophy won by India in 1983 was damaged, another trophy broken in two while others were hurled from a window.

The incident followed the digging up of the wicket at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium earlier this month by Hindu militants. The first Test was subsequently moved to Madras.

"All that I can say is that it is just not cricket," BCCI president Rajsingh Dungarpur told the Indian Express newspaper. "As far as we are concerned, we will go ahead with the tour," said Dungarpur, who has now been given police protection, together with chairman of selectors Ajit Wadekar.

Police also said they would protect Bombay-based Indian stars Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar when they return from a tour of New Zealand on Thursday. Suspicion over the attack on the BCCI offices fell immediately on the Hindu militant Shiv Sena party, which has vowed to disrupt the tour in protest against Pakistan's support for Moslem sdeparatists in Kashmir.

However, the Shiv Sena denied any role in the vandalism, and Bombay joint police commissioner, Parvinder Singh Pasricha, admitted his men were "groping in the dark" to find the perpetrators. "Cricket lovers will bow their heads in shame," said the legendary Kapil Dev, under whom India achieved their finest cricketing moment by winning the 1983 World Cup.

"Whoever has done this has no respect for the country's sporting achievements. If a national treasure like Tendulkar needs police protection in his own country, something's very wrong," Kapil said.

The Shiv Sena also held a demonstration outside the residence of International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya in Calcutta. No match has been scheduled for Maharashtra state, or Bombay, which is ruled by the Shiv Sena.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, under whose assurance of "foolproof" security Pakistan agreed to undertake the tour, conveyed his dismay at Monday's incidents to Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi.

Joshi said he would resign as vice-president of the cricket board if it was proved that Shiv Sena activists were behind the attack. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Khalid Mahmood and captain Wasim Akram voiced deep concern over the incident.

"This situation is very disappointing," Mahmood said. "The Pakistan team will not go to Bombay but we will monitor the situation and talk to the Indian Board officials."

Akram said his teammates and their families were more concerned now. "The families of all the players are really concerned and my father-in-law called me to tell me about the latest episode," Wasim said. "There are a few people who do not want to see Pakistan play in India but they should not be allowed to do that," Akram added.

Indian security agencies said they were geared to counter the Shiv Sena's threats against the cricketers.a top Indian government security official.

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