Date-stamped : 26 May97 - 18:17 Report : The Dawn Arshad disallowed to play in finals by Samiul Hasan KARACHI, May 24: The Tournament Committee of the Independence Cup did not allow Pakistan`s reinforcement Arshad Khan, off- spinner, to take part in the finals. Arshad Khan was rushed to New Delhi on Friday to join the Pakistan cricket team in Mo- hali (Chandigarh) where it played Sri Lanka in the first final on Saturday. According to well informed sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the request was originally spurned by Sri Lanka. "The Sri Lankans said since they have the option of finalising their team from the 14 available players, similar principle applies to Pakistan. "The world champions added that none of the Pakistan players is injured or being sent back. An additional player is only al- lowed when any of the playing member is ruled out from further participa- tion in the tourna- ment which is not the case here," sources in the BC- CI, request- ing anonymity, quoted Sri Lankan manager Duleep Mendis as say- ing. Duleep Mendis, sources continued, was inflexible emphasising that the allowance of an additional player meant a tilt in the balance of the two sides in favour of Pakistan. "Arjuna Ranatunga was equally against allowing Pakistan an additional player," sources said. "We have conveyed our regrets to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and I assume they understand our position," sources said. Defending his board, the sources emphasised that Jaghmohan Dalmiya, Secretary, BCCI, was in favour of accommodating Pak- istan`s re- quest "because the BCCI is taking Pakistan`s visit as more than a cricket tour. But he was helpless against the stand of the Sri Lankans which was a logical one." The sources maintained that the playing conditions of the tournament didn`t mention the replacements, adding that they were understood. "In the World Cup as well as other one-day tournaments, replacements are only allowed but not reinforce- ments. Never a 15th player is fielded when a team has 14 fit players. "We thought since it was a worldwide practice, Pakistan would have understood them. Unfortunately they didn`t and the result is that the BCCI finds itself on a tricky wicket," sources said. Majid Khan, Chief Executive, PCB, said late Saturday evening from Lahore that he has not been told about such decision. "Until I confirm this from the team management, I can`t comment. "I will talk to Nasimul Ghani in the wee hours of Sunday to inquire if it was true." It was another example of PCB`s lack of knowledge about laws of the game. A heavy investment has been made on a player who even can`t represent his country as he is bound by the rules and regula- tions. When a request had come from the team management from India, the PCB should have first asked it to confirm if the reinforcement was allowed to play in- stead of rushing Arshad Khan from here straightaway. The team is being managed by former Test cricketers of whom Nasimul Ghani has been an international referee. But even if Nasim or Mushtaq Mohammad had made a mistake, the PCB was not supposed to make such a glaring blunder because the Chief Execu- tive, Majid Khan, was one of the technical delegates of the World Cup before resigning in protest. AAMIR SOHAIL: Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism has reportedly taken a serious notice of PCB`s deci- sion to send Arshad Khan and ignore Aamir Sohail. Mr Mushahid Husain, who is Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has already told the Senate that "someone`s egoistic problem is restraining an early solution to the Aamir Sohail issue." A few telephone calls have reportedly been made from the Ministry`s office to the PCB headquarters in Lahore to ex- press the protest against the decision of the Selection Commit- tee. However, it was not known what justification the PCB offi- cials have given to the Ministry. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Contributed by Vishwa Gaddamanugu ( vg@cricinfo.com )