New Delhi, Feb 12: The much awaited tour of the Indian cricket team to Pakistan next month is in jeopardy with the Union Home Ministry today favouring its postponement until the completion of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Indian team was slated to play three tests, five one dayers and a three-day match during their 46-day tour.
The home ministry's suggestion to postpone the tour apparently stems from the fact that the NDA government does not want its ''feel good'' slogan to suffer a setback in the event of any untoward incident involving the Indian team during the tour. The government is also under tremendous pressure from various political parties which do not want this sensitive cricket series between the two arch rivals take place when the country is in the election mode.

A final decision regarding the fate of the tour will be taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after its three-member team, currently in Pakistan, submits its report to the board.
The team comprises BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty, communication and media director Amrit Mathur and Yashovardhan Azad, Inspector General of Police in the home ministry.

Bureau Report