External Affairs Ministry worried over Indian cricket team touring Pakistan

The series to be played from January 5 to February 19 includes three Tests, five One-day Internationals and one Twenty20 International but is in doubt because the Indian government is yet to clear the tour.

The Ministry fears that any untoward eventuality during the tour can decimate all the efforts made in building up the Indo-Pak relations.

When asked whether it is safe for the Indian team to visit Pakistan at this juncture, a top source in the Ministry of External Affairs told reporters in New Delhi today that risk is not worth running for.

He further added that we would have a professional evaluation of the situation. South block is especially concerned about the safety of Sachin Tendulkar who recently received terror threats.

This statement from the Ministry came days after Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani himself expressed desire to speak to his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh to ensure full proof security and safety of the Indian players.

Pakistan has witnessed worst terrorist violence in recent time, which has claimed more than thousand lives this year alone and officials in India believes that the Pakistan cricket lovers for whom cricket is not just a game will understand their apprehensions.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is making all possible efforts to save the series against India that is crucial for the future of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan has not played a single Test in 2008 because of Australia's refusal to tour this country on the pretext of security apprehensions earlier this year. Experts fear that if India also avoided their tour of Pakistan, then no leading cricket team will visit this country in the coming years. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)

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