The spat between the Cricket Board and Sports Minister on the issue of playing against Pakistan, took a new turn today with Uma Bharti holding back a letter to the Finance Minister regarding tax exemption for BCCI for organising the ICC KnockOut tournament next year.

"When International Cricket Council President Malcolm Gray met me last month, I had promised all help from the Government, including tax exemption, for staging the event. But when I was about to send a letter to Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha recommending tax exemption, I got the news of the Cricket Board's threat not to play in multi- nation tournaments.

"This only meant that if they were not going to play in the ICC Knock- Out tournament, they would not be hosting it either. So, I held the letter back," the Sports Minister said. Asked when the letter would go, she replied "when the matter is resolved".

Meanwhile, Uma Bharti's statement yesterday that the Board had never approached her ministry formally for clarification, seemed to have had its effect as the BCCI got in touch with her last night. "I have passed on their query to my ministry officials and they will send the necessary clarifications," she said.

Uma Bharti reiterated that she was opposed to playing cricket against Pakistan only on bilateral basis and not otherwise.

© PTI