KARACHI (Reuters)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed that India's decision to withdraw from the Asian Test Championship had threatened a four-team tournament scheduled for next year. The tournament - due to be co-hosted by the South Asian rivals - also includes the West Indies and Zimbabwe. "As things stand I would say the quadrangular tournament is now in doubt," PCB Director Brigadier Munawwar Rana told Reuters.

The Pakistan and Indian boards agreed at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in London two months ago to co-host the competition in February and March next year. The co-hosting proposal was put forward as the West Indies would be touring Pakistan, and Zimbabwe would be in India at the same time.

"We planned the quadrangular in the belief that the Indian government had no objection to its team playing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments," said Rana. "But with the Indians withdrawing from the Asian Test Championship (ATC), I would say the quadrangular is now doubtful."

India were due to start an Asian Test match in Lahore on September 12 in what would have been their first Test appearance on Pakistani soil since 1989. But on Tuesday the Indian government refused permission for the team to play.

Pakistan and India jointly hosted the World Cup in 1987 and 1996 with great success. Rana said Pakistan would now plan the West Indies tour itinerary independently and consider options to replace the quadrangular event. He added that Zimbabwe would be considered, but first the team's schedule in India had to be checked.

India's sports minister Uma Bharti said cricket relations could not be normalised until the political climate between India and Pakistan had improved. Rana said the PCB had yet to devise a clear strategy regarding its relationship with India. "Right now we are assessing the situation because the Indian withdrawal as come as a disappointment to everyone," he said.

Pakistan has said it did not like to mix politics with sport and was willing to play India anytime and anywhere. The Indian withdrawal marked the third time in nine months the team had been forced to boycott an international event involving Pakistan.

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