August 4, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24,1423

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KARACHI, Aug 3: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Saturday made a U-turn on its stand on Australia’s refusal to tour this October but maintained that it had various options available which it could exercise.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told a news conference that he never intended to directly threaten a boycott of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB).

“I continue to enjoy excellent relations with the ACB ever- since I took over as PCB chairman. All I meant was that we have options available to exercise,” he said.

Tauqir earlier this week threatened that he might reconsider the decision to send his team to Australia in 2004 if Australian Cricket Board (ACB) refuses to tour inspite of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s guarantees of players security. He had said he would activate and motivate the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) which passed a resolution in April at Sharjah that all the members would boycott the country that refuses to tour the coalition partner.

“Activating and enforcing are two different things. I never said I would pursue the enforcement of the resolution. But prior to going to ACC, I will contact the International Cricket Council (ICC) to brief them and take their advice,” he said.

He said that if ACB refused to send its team for three Tests, he would take fresh guidance from President Musharraf.

“Now that the President is directly involved, it is no more a matter between the two boards. If ACB refuses to come, I will inform the President and seek his advice. Whatever he says will be implemented.

“If he says go and play at a neutral venue so that cricket is not suffered, I will go ahead. He has returned Friday from foreign tour and I will talk to him shortly,” he said.

Tauqir said he hasn’t talked to the ACB or ICC officials yet but promised to get in touch with them in the coming week.

“ACB chairman Bob Merriman tried to contact me but because of line disturbance, I couldn’t talk to him. I will soon make a return call,” he said.

Tauqir called for a quick solution to the tour and repeated that Australian boycott remained one of the several options.

“I would like to put the pressure on the Australian through the ICC which is the supreme body. I would like Malcolm Gray to intervene and persuade Australia to tour Pakistan,” he said.

Asked if Australia doesn’t tour Pakistan what would be the fate of the Future Tours Programme, the general said it was already a dead issue. He said most of the countries have not signed on the FTP but still cricket was being played.