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| January 17, 2006 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 16, 1426 |
India to skip ICC event after 2006
MUMBAI, Jan 16: India will not participate in the biennial ICC Champions Trophy after 2006 because it is scheduled during their peak season between October and March, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Monday.
“We’re not free in October in 2007, 2008 or 2009. We have made our position very clear to the ICC (International Cricket Council) many times,” BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said.
He also made the announcement at a news conference.
India, the game’s commercial hub, will stage this year’s Champions Trophy from Oct 7 to Nov 5. However, they argue that holding the event during the period cuts into their bilateral schedule and, as a consequence, on their revenue.
An Indian cricket official earlier this month said the board wanted the competition to be scrapped altogether. The event was launched in 1998 to raise funds for the ICC’s development projects.
Modi said there was no confrontation with the ICC.
“We’ve not signed any agreement to play in future editions. It’s not something the ICC have asked or we have offered.”
He said the Champions Trophy had been scheduled in such a way that it did not clash with the peak season of either Australia or England.
“If others want to play they can. Why should we play in October?” Modi added.
He said the BCCI had agreed to host Australia for three years from 2007 during October.
The teams will play seven one-dayers in 2007, four Tests in 2008 and seven or eight one-dayers the following year, he said.—Reuters
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