NEW DELHI (Reuters)
Former Indian cricketers have backed the government's decision not to play an Asian TestChampionship match in Pakistan next month but fans were disappointed at missing another duel between the old rivals.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee took the decision not to let the team play at a high-level meeting with the country's federal foreign and home ministers late on Tuesday, government sources said.

"I feel things are not right for India to play in Pakistan. It would put too much pressure on players," Roger Binny, a former Test bowler and member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, told Reuters from the southern city of Bangalore on Wednesday. "When everything else is not right, how is it right to play cricket? I agree with what the government has done," he added.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained by a five-decade-old dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Cricket ties between the neighbours have been rocky since the Indian government cancelled a proposed Test tour of Pakistan late last year and banned all bilateral cricket between the two countries.

"The government knows what they are doing. It's unfortunate, but if they feel the situation is not okay then they have to make the right decision," said Maninder Singh, a former Test spinner who is now a television commentator.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said they would abide by the government's decision. "...whatever they say, we will do," Jaywant Lele, the BCCI's secretary, told Reuters.

India last played a Test match in Pakistan nearly 12 years ago and the Pakistan team last travelled to India in early 1999, a few months before an undeclared war in northern Kashmir strained Indo-Pakistani relations further. Though India allowed its volleyball team to travel to Pakistan recently, it was firmer when it came to cricket. It said cricket, which has a huge following in both countries, aroused national sentiments and inflamed passions when India played Pakistan.

The two teams have always played tense, gruelling matches and fans feel they have been robbed of the excitement since cricket became a victim of regional politics.

"I am really disappointed. Sport and politics should be kept separate," said Vikram Mathur, a student who was looking forward to the September Test. "When India play Pakistan, the excitement reaches a different level. It's quite sad we'll have to be without a tussle between the teams," said Dhruv Rai, a doctor and avid cricket follower.

India and Pakistan have played some memorable matches. In 1986, former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad hit a last-ball six in the final against India to help his side win the inaugural Australasia Cup at Sharjah. In another nail-biting game, Pakistan beat India in Madras by just 18 runs in the first Test of the 1999 series. But the home side levelled the series in the second Test after leg-spinner Anil Kumble captured all 10 second-innings wickets to equal England's Jim Laker's world record.

The Asian Test Championship starts next week with Pakistan hosting Bangladesh. Sri Lanka are the third team in the tournament.

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