Pakistan blast India over Games no-show
Saturday, 27 November 2010
GUANGZHOU, Nov 26 (AFP): Pakistan reopened old wounds with India Friday by insisting their bitter rivals were wrong to snub the Asian Games by refusing to send a cricket team.
Pakistan coach Sadiq Mohammad insisted that more pressure should have been put on India to respect the Guangzhou tournament, the first time the sport has featured at the Asiad.
"India said they would come and they said cricket should be in the Asian Games. God knows why they are not here. Somebody should have put added pressure on them," said Sadiq.
India snubbed the Asian Games because of international commitments faced by their team with a home series against New Zealand and an eagerly-awaited tour of South Africa about to get underway.
Sadiq said that despite Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also having Test and one-day international programmes to respect, all three still sent second-string teams to both the men's and women's events in Guangzhou.
"India said they had to play New Zealand, but our main team had matches to play against South Africa," added Sadiq.
Pakistan coach Sadiq Mohammad insisted that more pressure should have been put on India to respect the Guangzhou tournament, the first time the sport has featured at the Asiad.
"India said they would come and they said cricket should be in the Asian Games. God knows why they are not here. Somebody should have put added pressure on them," said Sadiq.
India snubbed the Asian Games because of international commitments faced by their team with a home series against New Zealand and an eagerly-awaited tour of South Africa about to get underway.
Sadiq said that despite Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also having Test and one-day international programmes to respect, all three still sent second-string teams to both the men's and women's events in Guangzhou.
"India said they had to play New Zealand, but our main team had matches to play against South Africa," added Sadiq.