Tour de Pakistan to start today

Australia, India refuse to participate in the 13-day race.

KARACHI:

The 16th Tour de Pakistan, which begins today, suffered a setback when four countries pulled out of the cycling event. The 13-day race will start from Karachi and will conclude in Abbottabad with 10 teams and 60 riders participating in the tournament.

The Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), which earlier confirmed the participation of Australia, India, Bangladesh and Island Republic of Seychelles, was left ruing the cancellation of these countries in the event that will now see Afghanistan as the only foreign team.

The riders will represent four provincial teams other than the sports departments of Pakistan Army, Railways, Fata, Wapda, Sui Southern Gas Corporation. The race comprises 11 stages which will cover 1620 kilometres across the country. The riders will peddle-off from in Karachi to end the tour in Abbotabad en route to Morro, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, Lahore and Ralawpindi.

PCF disappointed

“We are disappointed with the attitude of these countries,” the PCF secretary Idris Haider Khwaja told The Express Tribune. “They confirmed their participation but pulled out at the last moment.

“We are holding Asia’s longest race and I think that’s a big achievement for Pakistan. We cannot force these countries to come. It’s against sportsmanship to cancel a day before the event.”

According to Khwaja, these countries were refused permission by their governments despite the PCF’s promise to provide maximum security to their players and officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2011.