November 22, 2001	Thursday	Ramazan 6, 1422

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KARACHI, Nov 21: The Sachin Tendulkar saga has apparently brought India and Pakistan cricket authorities closer when heads of the two boards exchanged views on the controversy.

According to highly places sources, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jaghmohan Dalmiya Wednesday wrote a formal letter to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

Sources further said Dalmiya, a former International Cricket Council (ICC) president, also made a personal telephone call to Tauqir and deliberated on the subject.

Although no official version was made available from Pakistan cricket authorities, sources said the BCCI has sought Pakistan’s help to overcome the crisis which India believes is targeted against the Asian block.

“Dalmiya is convinced that a certain lobby was working against the Asian block and feels that it was time that the Asians make their presence felt and put up a joint stand,” sources said.

Dalmiya, it is believed, has also written a similar letter to Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).

The Asian block has suffered largely due to the biased and unaccommodating attitude of the ICC officials.

Muthiah Muralitharan, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar have previously faced ICC wraths before Tendulkar and five other Indian players were targeted at Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

“Dalmiya has expressed concerns that if the rules of the game were similar, why were only Asian cricketers being penalized. He has also argued that no player from Australia, England or South Africa has either been suspended or reprimanded despite breaching the code of conduct time and again,” sources said.

The Pakistan cricket authorities, who enjoy excellent relations with their counterparts, have promised full support and have proposed Dalmiya to chalk out a counter-strategy, sources said.

Although India twice refused to cross borders to honours their international commitment, the PCB has not blamed the BCCI for the stand of New Delhi.

Dalmiya was also the key figure when he used his authority as ICC president to reverse a ban on Shoaib Akhtar for a suspect bowling action.

Sources added that while Dalmiya has asked Pakistan’s support on Tendulkar affair, in response he has assured backing to Tauqir in getting Shoaib Akhtar cleared from the charges of suspect bowling action.