18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

LONDON, Feb 17: Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has said that any player nervous about touring Pakistan next month will have the right to opt out.

Dalmiya gave this assurance in a radio interview here. Reports of players' unrest because of security concerns were categorically denied by Dalmiya, who nevertheless said he was willing to listen to anyone who has reservations about going.

"We are going to play a game of cricket, we are not going to fight a war," Dalmiya, currently in London told BBC. "It is not mandatory that anyone has to go.

"To perform better, to perform at the optimum level, it is important that the player is physically and mentally absolutely tuned to the optimum. Therefore, unless he himself is feeling good and free, he will not be able to perform. And therefore we do not like any player to go under pressure.

"If anyone comes forward - but remember that not a single person has come forward, that's another speculation in media - but otherwise whosoever has met me, talked to me, I never read that anyone was in doubt not to go."-PPI