PCB seeks Indian board's advice

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board has sought the Indian board's advice on sending its domestic T20 champion team Sialkot Stallions to India to play in the inaugural Champions League. But the Indian board, instead of giving any decision, has postponed the tournament which was first shifted to Bangalore from Mumbai after the blasts. An official of the PCB said that Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir are safe in India and the board has asked the BCCI for their advice on security of its player and the Stallions travel to India. "The Rajistan Royal team manager has told us that both the players are safe. The OZs T20 champions Western Australia and England's Middlesex have pulled out of the champions League and said their decision will be taken in due course," the official said. Pakistan cricket authorities have shown willing to send their top Twenty20 team but not without the security advice of the Indian board. The tournament features eight sides from five countries and is scheduled to start in Mumbai on December 3 with at least six of the teams booked to stay at the luxurious Hotel Taj, a focal point of the gun and grenade attacks that started on Tuesday night. Pakistan will be represented in the tournament by the Sialkot Stallions, led by national captain Shoaib Malik. "We have asked the Indian board to keep us up to date with the situation and the status of the Champions League, but we have told them we are willing to send the Sialkot team," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said. "What has happened is a great tragedy but we strongly believe you can't stop sporting activities because of these terrorist strikes," he added. India's scheduled tour of Pakistan in early 2009 is currently awaiting approval from the Indian government before the tourists can confirm their participation in a series put in doubt by security concerns.

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