NEW DELHI: There was a sense of relief in the cricket fraternity as the Indian cricket team’s forthcoming tour to Pakistan was called off on Thursday.

The indications had come earlier when Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill had expressed his reservations regarding India going ahead with the tour and the government’s decision has only come along expected lines.

Former India captain Anil Kumble hailed the "good decision" and added, "We had known that we won’t be travelling to Pakistan under the present situation."

In the opinion of Kapil Dev, it was a decision taken by the government in the "best interest of the country."

The right message

Former Test opener N.S. Sidhu asserted, "There can’t be cricket after bloodbath. You can’t play with the emotions of a nation and expect us to come and entertain your public. It is the right message."

Privately, the players had been against the tour and the decision by the government must have come as a relief to them. India has had a series of no-cricket-with-Pakistan phases in the past too.

The first Test series between the two nations happened in 1952. The two teams then played each other till 1960-61 and then there was a gap of 18 years before cricketing contact was established in 1978 when India toured Pakistan.

‘Win hearts’

Cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were severed again in 1999 following the Kargil conflict and resumed five years later when the Indian government took the initiative to improve the relations by sending the team to "win hearts" across the border.

Former Test batsman Aunshuman Gaekwad put it well when he said, "Security was the main concern for our players. Pakistan has not been able to control terrorists on its soil and there would have been serious issues involving security to our players.

"They have also said we won’t be able to give security. Under the circumstances there is no question of playing in Pakistan."

In Dilip Vengsarkar’s opinion, India should not tour Pakistan. "There is no point in touring Pakistan, not for a year."

Following advice

According to BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, "The BCCI had made it clear that they would go strictly by what the Indian government has to say.

"Now that the tour is off, how can we go against our government’s advice?" He said it was too early to think of having the series at a neutral venue.

For former captain Ajit Wadekar, the cancellation of the tour was on expected lines. "I welcome the decision by the government. It has taken the right decision. There was a threat to the lives of our players."

Correct decision

His views were supported by former players Erapalli Prasanna, Nari Contractor and Madan Lal.

"It is a correct decision and in any case who would have risked sending our players to Pakistan under the prevailing circumstances," said Madan Lal.

Reacting to the decision in Mohali, the Board Secretary N. Srinivasan said, "We are neither sad nor relieved. We were told (by the government) that under the circumstances, it’s not feasible to tour Pakistan. Hence we can’t go."

India was scheduled to tour Pakistan from January 4 to February 20 to play three Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 international.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), meanwhile, expressed its disappointment and extended an invitation to Sri Lanka to come as a replacement.