Lahore, February 27 – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed its discomfort at the decision to invite the Dalai Lama to inaugurate the opening game of the India tour at the resort town of Dharamshala.
“PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan spoke to the Indian board officials on Saturday insisting that Pakistan should not be put in an embarrassing position as it enjoyed very good relations with China,” a PCB source was quoted as saying by The News.
The Dalai Lama was invited to inaugurate the opening three-day match at Dharamshala between the visiting Pakistan team and the Indian Board Resident’s XI.
He is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Dharamshala has hosted the Dalai Lama’s government since he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
“BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) conveyed to Shaharyar (Khan) that it was not their decision to invite the Dalai Lama to inaugurate the match and that this was done by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association,” the source said.
“But Pakistan has said it has no problems with the Dalai Lama opening the match or witnessing it from the confines of the pavilion,” he said.
“Shaharyar however has asked BCCI to be very selective while confirming future engagements of the Pakistan team on the tour,” the source clarified.
This is the first time that Dharamshala will host an international match and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association had deemed it fitting that the Nobel peace prize winner should inaugurate the game.
