Cricket: Pakistan on attack after drugs row: Tourists consider going home unless apology is forthcoming in Grenada

PAKISTAN'S tour of the West Indies remained in doubt yesterday less than two days before the first Test despite the drugs charges against four of their players in Grenada being dropped on Monday, writes Tony Cozier from Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Arriving here, where the Test is scheduled to start tomorrow, Pakistan's team manager, Khalid Mahmood, gave the tour only a '50-50 chance' of continuing. 'The players are still in a troubled state of mind and want to go home,' he said. 'I can sympathise with them. Only if they are able to give 100 per cent to cricket will the tour go on.'

Charges against Wasim Akram, the captain Waqar Younis, the vice-captain Aqib Javed, and Mushtaq Ahmed, arising from their arrest for 'constructive possession' of marijuana last Thursday were dropped by Grenada's director of public prosecution, Keith Friday, on reviewing the evidence.

Mahmood told reporters here an apology from the Grenada authorities or from the West Indies Cricket Board of Control would go a long way to guaranteeing the remainder of the tour which comprises three Tests.

The WICBC president, Clyde Walcott, responded that it was impossible to apologise for something over which his board had no control, but said: 'We do regret the unfortunate incident and are very happy the charges have been dropped.'