October 14, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 26, 1422

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NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani has cleared the path for the England cricket team’s India tour starting November, agreeing to provide crucial land security to the visitors.

Advani gave the assurance to a three-member delegation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), led by its new president Jagmohan Dalmiya, which called on him Friday evening.

“Mr Advani told us to convey his assurance to the English Cricket Board (ECB),” said a member of the delegation that met Advani at his North Block office for about half-an-hour.

“He said that there was no problem whatsoever in hosting the English team in the country.”

Clearance from the home ministry is mandatory before a cricket series can be hosted in India, as it is this ministry that provides security to all visiting teams.

Under normal circumstances, the BCCI sends a letter to the ministry seeking clearance before the start of a home series. But because of the war in Afghanistan, where American and British forces are conducting air raid, BCCI officials thought it better to make a request in person.

England are to play three Tests and five One-day Internationals on their tour of India.

During the meeting with Advani, Dalmiya also took up the issue of tax exemption for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Knock-Out Tournament, to be hosted by the BCCI next year.

Advani has apparently promised to convey the BCCI request to the finance ministry.

“He assured us that he would take up the matter with the finance ministry, which will decide whether to give tax exemption to BCCI,” the official said.