January 20, 2002	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 5, 1422

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KOLKATA, Jan 19: India’s sports minister said on Saturday India would not play cricket with Pakistan until Islamabad takes concrete steps to stop “cross-border terrorism”.

“The (Indian) government will not allow any cricket with Pakistan until it takes appropriate measures to wipe out cross-border terrorism,” said Uma Bharati.

“The decision not to play against Pakistan is a collective one of various ministries,” she said. India has repeatedly refused to play Pakistan over the last decade. Last year it refused to play at Lahore in the Asian Test championship, also featuring Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

India had also cancelled the scheduled tour of Pakistan in Dec 2000.

They also pulled out of the Sharjah one-day series last April because of Pakistan’s presence.

India last played a Test in Pakistan in 1989.—AFP