"Nobody can deprive squash fans from watching great players in action in India. The fans in India love me and I love them. I will play," the 30-year-old Khan told AFP.

Khan said he had only cancelled his visit to Mumbai, scheduled for May, because of surgery and not the World Open due to be held in the city in December this year. "I read it in the newspapers today and it is ridiculous," he added.

The Indian Squash Professionals Association had invited Khan for a three-day coaching clinic from May 8 in Mumbai.

"It might be a misunderstanding. I cancelled it because it takes time to recover from the surgery," Khan said.

Meanwhile, Mahendra Agarwal, director, Indian Squash Professionals Association, while speaking to The Indian Express in Mumbai said that he was hopeful of getting Khan to Mumbai in October. "I am confident of bringing him here before the World Open," saidAgarwal. Khan's India-born coach Satinder Singh Bajwa, is also likely to come here for a two-week clinic from May 11, Agarwal added.

Khan had complex tears on both knees which were operated on Sunday at a private hospital in Lahore. Khan said he will go for a six-week training before competing in the Hong Kong Open starting in August.

The Shiv Sena has said it will not allow Pakistani sportsmen or artists to perform on Indian soil until Islamabad stopped meddling in Jammu and Kashmir. "If I get the opportunity, I will personally meet Bal Thackeray and try to make him understand that we are brothers. Politics has nothing to do with sports, including the game of squash," Jansher said. "Rather sports helps to smoothen the relationship of politics."

Khan, who has more than 75 international tournament wins including six British Open titles, said, "I was treated by Indians during Mahindra Open last year as I am treated by Pakistanis or my fans all over the world."

Sena activists, last Sunday night,disrupted a concert in Mumbai by Ghulam Ali, a popular singer. Pak sportsmen and artistes condemned the attack on Ali but praised general response during their trips.