India in Pakistan 2003-04

Power cuts, and Pindi problems

Wisden Cricinfo staff

March 17, 2004

Until the end of the Indian tour of Pakistan, we will be running a daily Paper Round of what newspapers in India and Pakistan, and from around the world, are saying about this series. This is what the media had to report today:

Just one hour into the Rawalpindi ODI, there were widespread protests in Kolkata. The reason? A major fire at an important power-generating station, which meant power cuts through most of the city. The Times of India reports that agitated residents incessantly called up the regional offices of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), while others took to the streets, blocking the roads and forcing traffic to come to a standstill.

"Aware that a prolonged power-cut could develop into a law-and-order situation, repairmen worked on a war-footing," says the daily. Power was finally restored in a couple of hours, by which time Pakistan had nearly completed their innings. "The clamour at paras [local colonies] died just as abruptly as the protests had begun, as fans rushed back to their TV sets. Given the extent of the fire, CESC said it was the quickest restoration in recent times," the report concluded.

* * *

The first one-day international, at Karachi, was organised in an impeccable manner, but things weren't quite so smooth at Rawalpindi, the venue of the second ODI. The News reports that the local administration there made life difficult for the media, the sponsors, and even the members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"The local administration which controls the stadium is just not willing to show any proper cooperation with the board in the organisation of matches here," a PCB employee told the daily. "It is a tough situation for all of us." The report mentioned that some Indian journalists complained about the local police at the ground refusing to recognise their media accreditation cards. Worryingly for the Pakistan board, Rawalpindi is scheduled to host the third match of the Test series as well.

* * *

Majid Khan, the former Pakistan opener, has accused Javed Miandad of deliberately keeping Bazid Khan, Majid's son, out of the team. In an interview with The Indian Express, Majid says: "He [Miandad] wants his nephew Faisal Iqbal to be given a place in the side. And in Bazid he sees a potential rival to that place. It is as simple as that." Bazid has played first-class cricket since 1997-98, and has an impressive average of over 45 in limited-overs matches.

* * *

Thrilled at the rousing fare that has been dished out by both teams in the series so far, the PCB has announced that Pakistan would be keen to play a one-day series in India later this year. According to an AFP report, the series - a triangular with South Africa as the third team - might happen in November, just before Pakistan's tour to Australia. "If we are invited, we will be happy to go," said Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the PCB. "It will be a good preparation for our tour of Australia scheduled at the end of the year."

* * *

The news agency APP reports that Rashid Khan and Jalaluddin, former Pakistan fast bowlers, have demanded an apology from Dean Jones, a commentator with Ten Sports channel, for the comments he made against Inzamam-ul-Haq in the Karachi ODI. Jones called Inzamam "an idiot" after he won the toss and chose to field. In a statement, Rashid and Jalaluddin said that Jones's remark had perturbed cricket lovers in Pakistan, and urged commentators to be careful about making remarks which might cause the ire of the Pakistan fans.

* * *

Fans queuing up for tickets to the third ODI, in Peshawar, were lathi-charged by the police, says Dawn. According to the report, the fans were angered by the fact that they had to wait for hours outside the Bank Alfalah counters, where the tickets were being sold, while the bank employees were allegedly selling tickets inside. The daily reports that the police manhandled the crowd without provocation. "A young man was dragged by a constable, who asked his colleagues to beat him up, which infuriated the journalists, who came to his rescue. In another incident, an old man was severely disgraced by the police, who forced him to sit on the ground for at least an hour."

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