It's official, KKR and Buchanan part ways

Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday made a formal announcement of sacking its controversial Australian coach John Buchanan, claiming it was an amicable parting of ways by both the parties.

KKR co-owner Jay Mehta said in a statement that the Aussie has been released with "immediate effect".

"(John) Buchanan has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that he set out to and has not been able take the franchise into the future as per his vision for this team. We have amicably agreed that Knight Riders will release him from his contract with immediate effect," Mehta said.

The KKR management refrained from using any harsh words and instead, wished Buchanan success in his future endeavours.

"I would like to state that John is a great coach. He had a vision for Knight Riders and did not waver from this vision.

Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so necessary to this franchise. Knight Riders would like to wish him every success in his future wherever that may take him," Mehta said.

Buchanan, on his part, said his thoughts were no more "aligning" with the team management and he was "very disappointed in not being able to continue with the Knight Riders and complete the work I started some 18 months."

"I think we have the makings of a very good IPL franchise, and the foundations are there for 2010. I would like to thank everyone who supported me at Knight Riders, and I wish the team every success in 2010," Buchanan was quoted as saying in the release.

With Buchanan out, names of former Sri Lankan and Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore was doing round for the vacant coach's job even though the NCA chief maintained that he was "employed with BCCI".

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan's names are also said to be in contention.

The KKR management, meanwhile, announced that they would take a fresh approach to the 2010 season.

"While the 2009 IPL season was an exciting and successful event, the Kolkata Knight Riders regretfully did not achieve what was required of them during the tournament, failing to fulfill both their own and their fans' expectations," the franchisee said.

"The Knight Riders management and owners have reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of the team with all parties involved and are pro-actively looking for a new approach to ensure Knight Riders are well prepared for the 2010 season of IPL and beyond," it added.

Flip-flop on ACSU at IPL

After all the hue and cry surrounding the deployment of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) personnel at the Indian Premier League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council have diametrically altered their positions. The BCCI, which initially declined the offer of the ACSU's services, has relented on engaging Sir Paul Condon's men but now the ICC says it is not in a position to provide the service.

"We cannot do something that cannot be the best," said an ICC spokesman. "It is too late for the ACSU to provide the service because work at a tournament of IPL's scale and length requires at least a month's preparation besides a heavy work force. They would have needed people and time for reconnaissance and surveillance."

The BCCI admitted that it has reconsidered the stand. "We wanted to invite the ACSU but we understand it is too late. There is no point inviting them at this stage," a top BCCI official said. The issue was also discussed at the Working Committee meeting on Wednesday.

It is learnt that the BCCI initially refused because the ICC was demanding a hefty fee to put in place its protocols. They wanted a whopping $1.5 million which, a Board official said, was much more than the budget allocated for the purpose by the IPL.

The change in the BCCI's position came about after its meeting with ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat. Lorgat, who was in Mumbai in connection with the 2011 World Cup Organising Committee meeting on Monday, is believed to have agreed to reduce the fees but the offer came too late. It may be recalled that Condon had once told the ICC that the potential for betting and match-fixing is high in a tournament like the IPL.

ICL presence in NZ cricket worries BCCI

Likely presence of the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League players in their domestic sides could unhinge the plans of New Zealand Cricket in fulfilling its commitment of arranging a warm-up match for Indians before the first Test.


"Some ICL players could turn out for these teams and such a scenario is not acceptable to us," BCCI sources said on Saturday.


The BCCI has barred all its cricketers and officials from having any track with the Essel Group-promoted ICL and the International Cricket Council has convened a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday to resolve the BCCI-ICL conflict.


India had agreed to extend their Test series from two to three matches on the request of NZC and in lieu of that they had demanded some practice for the players, who were not part of the ODI squad.


Six Indian players — Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Dhawal Kulkarni and Laxmipathi Balaji — are expected to play in New Zealand's domestic circuit before the first Test, beginning March 18.

ICC to bring BCCI and ICL on table

In a step aimed at ending the tussle between the Indian Cricket Board and the Indian Cricket League, the International Cricket Council has invited both the parties to a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday.

ICC president David Morgan and the chief executive Haroon Lorgat would meet with representatives of the BCCI and the ICL. The representative of the BCCI and the ICL had met in October last year but the talks had failed.

Morgan said he had arranged the meeting to try and bring bout a settlement to the long-running dispute between the two parties.

"I've long regarded it as a priority to bring together the BCCI and the owners of the ICL and I'm pleased to say we have fixed a meeting to take place in Johannesburg on Monday," Morgan said in a statement.

The ICC president cautiously said they were hoping to see an end the dispute but nothing can be promised.

"I hope we might be successful in coming to a mutually acceptable conclusion. I can't be certain that will be the case but I hope we can at least make a start in bringing about
a settlement.

"I think this is significant because experience tells me that the best opportunity to solve a dispute is to have the parties face-to-face," he said.

India want extra New Zealand Test

India have requested to play an extra Test on their tour of New Zealand in March to help recoup some of the $25m lost after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Indian cricket board cancelled two one-day internationals against England and a proposed tour of Pakistan following the attacks.

The Champions Trophy, due to be held in Pakistan, was also postponed.

India are currently scheduled to play two Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in New Zealand.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed it was hoping to generate extra funds by adding another Test to the tour.

"We have requested New Zealand to accommodate an extra Test to the series," said Ratnakar Shetty, from the BCCI.

"We are waiting for a response from them."

India pull out of Pakistan tour

India have pulled out of next year's planned cricket tour of Pakistan in the wake of November's attacks in Mumbai after receiving government advice.

They were due to arrive in Pakistan on 4 January for three Tests, five one-day games and a Twenty20 international but the Indian government stepped in.

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Salim Altaf conceded: "It was a decision neither in their nor in our hands."

Meanwhile, the PCB has invited Sri Lanka to tour in India's place.

This new tour would involve three Test matches, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 game.

Altaf said: "We hope they will agree to it and come after 20 January, shortly after hosting Bangladesh."

India's tour had been in jeopardy since last month's attacks, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Pakistan has denied involvement after the attacks left more than 170 dead.

It is the third major cricket tour to Pakistan this year to be cancelled on security grounds.

Australia pulled out of their scheduled visit in March, while the International Cricket Council also postponed the Champions Trophy one-day tournament in September.

As a result, Pakistan have played no Test cricket this year and just 21 one-day internationals, mostly against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The Pakistan Cricket Board fears this latest decision could cost it £13m.

PCB's Altaf said: "If there is no India series we gain nothing from our new television deal and lose out on other sources of income as well."

The PCB recently signed a new television rights deal worth approximately £90m with the Dubai-based organisation Ten Sports, but it includes a clause which stipulates that if a series is cancelled, nothing will be paid.

Indian sports minister MS Gill made the final call on cancelling the tour, with the government's Ministry of External Affairs having already refused permission for a junior hockey team to travel to Pakistan.

"We received a communication from the government stating that in the present circumstances, it is not feasible to tour Pakistan," said Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) official Ratnakar Shetty.

But Shetty has not ruled out the possibility of playing the games at a neutral venue, with the PCB having previously floated the idea of moving the fixtures to the United Arab Emirates.

"No decision has been made on playing Pakistan at a neutral venue," said Shetty.

Meanwhile, he denied that the decision could damage the next Cricket World Cup, which is meant to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"It will not affect the 2011 World Cup as that is a different tournament," he said.

Shetty also believes that relations between the respective cricket boards would not be harmed and Altaf agrees.

He added: "We are still on normal terms with BCCI because it was a decision neither in their nor in our hands."

"They have also said that if the situation gets normal in the future it would send its team to Pakistan.

"We still maintain sport should not be mixed with politics.

"We believe cricket can help improve relations between the two nations."

Former PCB chief Shahryar Khan said he was not shocked by the Indian government's decision.

"It is a disappointment, but it does not come as a surprise," he said.

"We all hope that it can be rescheduled later.

"I know that the Pakistan Board is already making alternative arrangements."

It was to have been the fifth series between the two countries since 2004, when cricket ties resumed after a 15-year gap caused by cross-border tensions.

Warner in talks with Daredevils, Knight Riders

Swashbuckling New South Wales opener David Warner, who blasted a 54-ball 97 against Tasmania in a domestic one-day match on Sunday, said he has been in talks with three IPL franchises to join the cash-rich Indian Twenty20 league bandwagon.

The 22-year-old Warner, who also hit a blistering unbeaten 165 against Tasmania at Hurstville Oval in Sydney last weekend, said he has been contacted by Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers.

"There are three IPL teams in negotiations with my manager at the moment but there is nothing signed as yet," Warner said.

"We are talking to Delhi (Daredevils) pretty close at the moment, and Kolkata (Knight Riders) and we are hoping to talk to Deccan (Chargers) as well," Warner was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.

"Delhi has come back and had a few more words after last week," he added.

Warner has so far played seven one-day matches for NSW at an average of 57.6 and as many Twenty20 games at 21.33 but he is still to play for Sheffield Shield.

"It's exciting. Just to be given the opportunity to go over there with the world's best players is going to be amazing and hopefully we get something settled soon," he said.

India fans urged to back England series

The International Cricket Council (ICC) wants India fans to turn out in large numbers for the home test series against England to show they are not intimidated by the recent militant attacks in Mumbai.

England will resume their aborted India tour if a final security briefing by their board later on Sunday allays safety fears following the attacks that killed at least 171 people.

The first test is scheduled in Chennai from Thursday and the second in Mohali from December 19 after the Indian board changed the original venues to ease England's safety concerns.

"I would urge as many supporters as possible to join us during the series, not only because they will see two excellent sides playing test cricket .... but also because by doing so we will demonstrate that we will not be dictated to by terrorists," ICC President David Morgan said in a statement.

"I believe the test series will be a clear demonstration of the resilience of the Indian people and the game of cricket and an illustration that the game has the ability to bring people together."

England are training in Abu Dhabi as they wait for the word on security, having called off the last two games of a one-day series and returned home in the wake of the Mumbai attacks that began on November 26.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and Morgan will take turns to be present at the tests.

"Safety and security of the players, officials and spectators must be the key consideration at all times," Morgan said.

"But if security assessments indicate that the measures put in place are appropriate then we -- players, officials and all stakeholders -- have a duty to ensure cricket takes place."

Mumbai will be off limit for cricket teams for sometime: Malcolm Speed

Former ICC chief Malcolm Speed fears Mumbai would not be a favourite venue for foreign teams after the recent terror attacks, which could also have a "large impact" on India staging cricket series and revenues earned from them.

"It would be very disappointing if the tragedy in Mumbai caused teams not to visit India, and India's passionate fans were deprived of great contests. Pakistan faces the same problem... Clearly, Mumbai will be off limits for some time," Speed said.

"Cricket is played in countries that are increasingly dangerous... If India is off limits for some teams for some time, it will impact on the revenues of the BCCI," he was quoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

The former ICC CEO, however, said he would like cricket to be a part of the healing process in India after the attacks in Mumbai.

"It is clear these dreadful attacks will have a large impact on cricket in India. It would be great if cricket could be part of the healing process.

"At a time of such tragedy, it is difficult to focus on sport. Several cricket people were caught up in the attacks, and it's a relief that they escaped largely unharmed.

But "Sport has the power to bring nations together. Some of the discussions between the Indian prime minister and Pakistan's president over peace in Kashmir took place at cricket matches," he said.

Speed, who had once criticised the BCCI for just being a financial power without much result on the field, change his stance as India was "emerging as a world leader".

Zaheer Abbas fears for Pakistan cricket

Cricket great Zaheer Abbas fears his country will be left in the international sporting wilderness if India refuses to tour in January for security reasons.

"We will be like orphans in international cricketing community," Abbas told the AP on Monday. "Already most of the test playing countries are not touring Pakistan and if India does not come it will be worst for us."

India is scheduled to play three test matches, five limited-overs internationals and a Twenty20 international during its Jan. 4-Feb. 19 tour to Pakistan.

However, there are doubts over the tour after terrorist attacks killed at least 172 in Mumbai last Wednesday. The Indian government had earlier refused permission to its junior hockey team to play five matches in Pakistan last month due to security concerns.

Australia postponed its tour to Pakistan last March, citing security concerns, and the Champions Trophy in September was also deferred for a year after four more teams — New Zealand, South Africa, England and the West Indies — expressed reservations over traveling to Pakistan.

"I think the Asian countries which are part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) should stand united in this hour of need and should continue playing the bilateral series," Abbas said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is also considering an option of shifting the January series against India to a neutral venue in case.

"It will set a wrong precedent and moreover it will be a huge financial loss for the PCB," Abbas said.

Pakistan had earlier played test matches against Australia and the West Indies at Colombo and Sharjah in 2002, but PCB chairman Ejaz Butt said last week the home board incurred financial losses at that time.

"How could we inspire youngsters in our country if we play at a neutral venue?" Abbas, who scored 108 first-class centuries, said. "We are placed at No. 6 in the ICC test rankings and the only way to improve is if we play more test matches."

Pakistan is the only one of the nine active test playing nations which did not play a test match in 2008.

Abbas, who scored 12 centuries and 5,062 runs in 78 tests, said it was high time that Pakistan started taking its own decisions.

"Look, we have banned all the players who are competing in the Indian Cricket League and our cricket is almost stuck with this security scenario," he said. Pakistan has suspended all 19 players including present cricketers — Rana Naved, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir and Abdul Razzaq — for joining the unsanctioned, rebel ICL in India.

"We should start taking our own decisions and lift suspension on ICL players," Abbas said. "By doing so we will make our team more strong in international cricket."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has sought its government clearance over sending its team to neighboring Pakistan and is still waiting for the response.

Cricket & terror: the security challenges

The Mumbai tragedy has cast its shadow on international cricket.

The mandarins of Indian cricket were smug in the belief that terrorism was purely a problem of the Pakistani Cricket Board. Now, ‘26/11’ has changed it all.

Shedding its ego and pride, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given up two One Day Internationals against the Englishmen, and opted for a change in the venue of the second Test match with England from Mumbai to Chennai. This may be a windfall for cricket-starved Chennai.

But, then, there is speculation that Pietersen and his men, after going back in the next few days at the end of their ODI commitments, may not come back for the two-Test series because of the fear generated. There is confusion about the immediate future.

Situation not normal


A group within the BCCI is pretending that everything is normal and that the cricket calendar need not be greatly altered. They are being insensitive to a national calamity. Obviously, they are swayed by the losses the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board might suffer in giving up the two Tests and the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

I hope that wiser counsel will prevail and that the BCCI will not stage any of these matches until the situation returns to normal. Otherwise it could be accused of venality. The Ranji Trophy matches alone can be allowed to go on: they are low-profile events.

In the aftermath of Mumbai, the chief concern is to protect international cricket from the uncertainties arising from terrorism. The terrorist is unpredictable, and does not respect geography or nationality. You will have to factor this into your planning.

Except Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa, the other six cricketing nations are vulnerable to terrorism or similar disorder. England is of the lowest cause for concern, although it has had its share of terrorism. Zimbabwe’s law and order scene is fragile.

Security standards


In view of their contiguity, cricket officials of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka need to meet to arrive at acceptable standards of security at cricket venues and at hotels where players are put up. Without such cooperation, security arrangements can be suspect. The ICC has a few experts in its ranks who can play a vital role in this.

The worry is how Pakistani and Indian cricket officials are going to sit at the same table in the context of Mumbai. Cricket is not played in a vacuum but in an ambience of politics and trends in international relations.

Certain Bangladesh-based fundamentalist groups also have Al-Qaeda links, and these have come to adverse notice vis-À-vis India. These political undercurrents militate against the ICC and the BCCI arriving at a consensus with regard to protection to players.

The need of the hour is not only tight security at the grounds but careful choice of venues. The BCCI has been playing populist politics. On paper it seems to be a good idea to take cricket to unconventional places. However, such a strategy exposes cricketers to risks because of divergent standards of arrangement and quality of law enforcement. In some States, the police forces are not exactly known for their professional skills.

Expensive but essential


Security does not come cheap. It is becoming more and more sophisticated and therefore more and more expensive. Fortunately, the BCCI has enough money to spend. We expect it to not to compromise on the scale of arrangements on considerations of cost. Employing full-time security professionals and extending adequate cover to players like Sachin Tendulkar even at their homes should receive care.

Fundamental, of course, is strict access control to dressing rooms and hotel rooms. The Oval has a permanent space for a control room for the Met. Can the BCCI make a similar provision at least in the major venues? It will help infuse confidence in foreign teams. A full-time chief security officer could guide the BCCI in what has become a specialised discipline.

There is nothing like 100 per cent security. When foreign cricket organisations demand an assurance, we can only tell them we have done all that is possible in terms of access control at hotels and stadiums and players’ travel. Beyond this there can be no guarantee even in the best of times. In saying so, I concede that there cannot be a permanent freeze of international cricket. Only a suspension for a short period like the present one in India is feasible and warranted.

R.K. Raghavan
(The writer is a former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation and a former umpire of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.)

Source : http://www.hindu.com

England players' kits left at the Taj

England's cricketers will have to bring along new kits if they return to India for next month's Test series as they had left them at Mumbai's terror-hit Taj Mahal Hotel before the abandoned ODI series.

The players left their kits for the two-match Test series, scheduled to start in Ahmedabad on December 11, at the Taj and planned to to pick the gear after the one-day series.

But the terrorist attack, which has killed nearly 200 people and left the Taj hotel shattered, meant that England were forced to return without both their kit and the Hugo Boss suits they are given for formal occasions on tour.

"If we're looking what's going on at the moment, all our cricket stuff is in storage at the Taj hotel so we'll be the first team to play a Test match in blues (one-day kit) that's for sure. So I don't know. If we do come back, we'll have to get all the logistic stuff sorted out first," captain Kevin Pietersen was quoted as saying by 'Daily Telegraph'.

"The decision to go back to London will buy us some time and if we need to fly back to India on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next week then so be it," he added.

The English team left Bangalore early on Saturday morning for London after abandoning the remaining two matches of the ODI series. Their board had assured the BCCI that they would come back to play the Test series unless the security scenario in India does not worsen dramatically.

The BCCI has already moved the second Test from Mumbai to Chennai, besides fixing up a three-day warm-up game at Baroda from December 5-7.

England decision likely in 24 hours

Will they be back? The suspense will not last too long. England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will get back to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) soon. In fact, if one were to believe a top English Board official, in about 24 hours.

An emergency meeting of the England team management comprising players, representatives of the professional cricketers association, security experts and every concerned party, will be held some time on Sunday. If not, surely on Monday morning. “We want to hold the meeting as soon as possible,” an ECB official told DNA.

Any delay in the meeting could only be because of the timing of the team’s arrival in England. The players were not scheduled to land at the Heathrow before 7.30 pm GMT on Saturday, which is past midnight in India. “We want to call them for the meeting on Sunday itself,” the English Board official said.

The ECB has been maintaining silence over the claims of the BCCI that it has got the go-ahead from them over the tour. It has also not stated anything that is contrary to the BCCI’s assertions on the status of the two-Test series. The ECB’s silence is being deemed as approval of the Indian Board’s proposal.

When asked if that is the case, the ECB again chose to stay silent. “We have seen the comments of the BCCI. We will not say anything till our meeting is over. We will make our stand clear only after that,” Colin Gibson, communications manager of the ECB, told this paper on Saturday night.

British media lambast Modi for "insensitivity"

BCCI vice-President Lalit Modi was chastised on Friday by the British media for suggesting that England's cricketers should return to India for next month's Test series despite their heightened security fears in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.

England abandoned the one-dayers, calling off the last two games of the seven-match series, due to the deadly terror strikes in Mumbai which left over 100 dead.

Modi, who is also the commissioner of the cash-rich Indian Premier League, had stated on Thursday that he was confident about Kevin Pietersen and Co returning for next month's two Test matches, one of which is scheduled in Mumbai.

The comments were denounced by the media here with wide-selling tabloid 'The Daily Mail' describing him as "crass and insensitive".

"It is highly unlikely England will return whatever the cost to the ECB's relationship with the Indian board and, specifically, Lalit Modi, the Indian administrator who pulls the strings here. He had earlier shown crass insensitivity by announcing that the series would go ahead as new explosions were taking place in Mumbai.

"It was as if the Indian administrator who is taking over the game was determined to make it as difficult as possible for England to make their escape, as if his insensitivity in proclaiming to Sky and the BBC that the tour must go ahead was intended to cause maximum disruption to England and the man he has very much under his thumb, ECB chairman Giles Clarke," the 'Daily Mail' said.

The 'Daily Telegraph' was equally scathing in its criticism of Modi calling him a "single-minded character".

‘I got courage as Team India was praying for me’

BCCI auditor, who was trapped at the Taj hotel, recounts his horror story

It was just another night, he thought, when he checked into the Taj Palace in Colaba. He switched on the TV and watched Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar toy with the English attack. He called a friend in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office to say how Viru was making mincemeat of the England bowlers but before he could complete the sentence he had realised that he could himself fall to the fire of the terrorists.

When his friends, who were giving finishing touches to the Champions League work, broke the news of the terror attack, he was speechless. He did not know what to do but he knew what not to do. “I didn’t want to create panic among family members. I didn’t want to tell them of my predicament,” PB Srinivasan, an auditor of the BCCI, recalled.

He dialled the reception, which advised him to stay inside. He tried to follow the developments on TV but soon the network was blacked out in the hotel.

Using his phone he kept in touch with his friends in the BCCI, among whom was Sundar Raman, the CEO of the Champions League. Then, he got a call from the Indian team’s assistant manager Russell Radhakrishnan. “The entire Team is praying for you,” Russell told Srinivasan from the Team India hotel in Bhubaneswar.

“It gave me a lot of courage and encouragement. I decided to wait till the army or commandos come to rescue my rescue,” he said. Soon, he realised that the fifth floor of the building was in flames and he was on the third floor. He lost hope and tried to escape through the emergency fire exit. But his friends in the BCCI office suggested that he open the window and switch on the lights. He did exactly that and waved for help from his room.

The fire brigade immediately came to his rescue. They evacuated him with the help of a crane. He was then given a lift to the Cricket Centre by a Good Samaritan at around 3 am. From there they went to a Union Minister’s house whose daughter has also been part of the Champions League work. In the morning he spoke to the Board bosses Shashank Manohar and N Srinivasan before leaving to Chennai thinking was it just another night.

The International Cricket Council says it is a right decision

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday said the postponement of the One day series and the Champions League was the right decision but hoped cricket will be back in India soon.

“The two Boards — Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and England Cricket Board (ECB) — have taken the right decision to postpone the ODI series and also the Champions League. At this stage we cannot do anything. But I hope, cricket will be back in India soon,” Haroon Lorgat, the CEO of the world governing body of the game, told DNA.

Lorgat was to be in Mumbai on Friday for an important Future Tours Programme (FTP) meeting with the officials of the BCCI. He was, in fact, to stay at the Taj Hotel, the epicentre of the Mumbai terror. “Yes, I would have stayed in the Taj. But I’ve cancelled the visit. This is not right time for any such discussion. I will talk to N Srinivasan (BCCI secretary) and fix a new date for the meeting.”

The ICC and the BCCI were to discuss the FTP at the meeting during which some discussion on India’s troubled tour of Pakistan next year would have cropped up. At this stage, of course, that is not in picture.