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| July 23, 2005 | Saturday | Jumadi-us-Sani 15, 1426 |
Indian board rejects England’s request
NEW DELHI, July 22: Indian cricket board has turned down England’s request to play Twenty20 international matches on its extended tour of India early next year. England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was reportedly keen on one or more Twenty20 matches between two national teams on its March-April tour.
But Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not in favour of its team playing a version of the game that is fast becoming a rage worldwide though yet to find its feet in India.
“ECB is anticipating that England team will play three Tests and seven one-day internationals (ODIs) on next year’s tour of India,” ECB director of cricket operations John Carr said.
“ECB’s understanding is that BCCI is not in favour of Indian team playing Twenty20 international matches.”
Carr clarified that all seven one-day internationals — it is first time England will be playing so many ODIs here — will be bilateral matches with India and not as part of a triangular series.
“We hope to play seven straight ODIs against India. We are expecting a draft itinerary from BCCI within a couple of weeks and both boards will be keen to promptly confirm the itinerary.”
It looks like two boards are set to amicably sort out schedule as against bitter battle fought over itinerary four years ago. In 2001, England turned down a BCCI request to play seven ODIs, citing only five matches were agreed upon earlier.
But just before England visited India in late 2001, Muthiah lost post of BCCI president to Jagmohan Dalmiya. New BCCI supremo wanted England to play seven ODIs; otherwise he said India would not play an additional fourth Test match on 2002 tour of England.—Agencies
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