Sharjah 'Misses' India

The Sharjah cricket organisers "miss" theIndian team, which has not been participating in tournaments played here for thelast three years, and have invited India to take part in a tri-nation seriesfeaturing New Zealand and West Indies in Morocco in August.

Asserting that Sharjah was the "most regularvenue" in the world, chairman of the Cricketers Benevolent Fund Series (CBFS)-- the organisers of tournaments in Sharjah -- Abdur Rahman Bukhatir said thevenue had suffered because of "TV politics" and appealed to India to"reconsider" its stand of boycotting the venue.

"We miss India, not only because of the money(that its participation generates for the organisers) but also because Indiabrings huge excitement into the tournaments. India have been involved in some ofthe best games played here," Bukhatir said in an interaction with Indianjournalists.

He said it was unfortunate that India had includedSharjah among non-regular venues.

"We have staged more one-day games than any othervenue in the world. There cannot be any more regular venue. In fact, we havecontinued to host tournaments even in the absence of India whereas venues likeSingapore and Toronto have stopped doing so.

He said he had heard that one of the reasons for India not coming to Sharjah wasthat it did not want to play against Pakistan.

"But Pakistan is not here in every tournament.India can certainly participate in tournaments in which Pakistan is not playing.We have invited India to play in a triangular series against New Zealand andWest Indies in Tangiers in Morocco in August."

Bukhatir said he had met Foreign Minister YashwantSinha in Delhi two months ago and tried to clear many misconceptions includingthe idea that Sharjah was the hub of match-fixing activities.

"There was a time when matches were being fixedall around the world. I cannot say whether any match was fixed in Sharjah ornot. But it was certainly not happening in Sharjah alone. And the venue or theorganisers had nothing to do with it. Now even the anti-corruption unit ofInternational Cricket Council has said there is nothing wrong with thisvenue," he said.

Bukhatir was also at pains to explain that Sharjah hadno links with the underworld dons. "The cricket here had become so popularthat all sorts of people were coming to watch the matches. Dawood Ibrahim andhis colourful gang also started coming. But we did not have any association withthem. And none of these persons are here any more.

Bukhatir said his primary objective has been to promote cricket in the regionand the CBFS was constructing two world-class stadiums in Dubai and Abu Dhabitowards this aim.

"Our tournament in Morocco is also directedtowards this objective. We would certainly like India to come and play thetri-series against West Indies and New Zealand there. It is an excellentlocation," he said.

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said India's boycott ofSharjah was an "unfortunate" decision because it was not only harmingthe cause of cricket but also denying former cricketers a chance to earn somemoney.

"CBFS is doing a great job by naming formercricketers as beneficiaries of the tournaments in Sharjah. Cricketers in thepast did not earn much money and their life is made if they are made thebeneficiaries. The players' benefit is neglected by India's decision not to playin Sharjah," Miandad said.

"I have heard that the Indians are concerned aboutsecurity in Sharjah. This is a ridiculous argument. Sharjah is as safe a venueas any in this world," he said.

PTI