July 02, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1429

KARACHI, July 1: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday dismissed a suggestion from an Indian official that it was responsible for their country’s tough schedule during the Asia Cup.

Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Sunday that the schedule made by the ICC was “hectic”.

“The ICC monitors the volume of cricket on an ongoing basis,” said an ICC spokesman.

“The Future Tours Programme (FTP) recommended maximum volume of matches over a 12-month period is 15 Tests and 30 One-day Internationals. However, each board determines whether it wishes to adhere to that mark or arrange extra matches.”

Shukla also raised queries over the fixtures.

“The international calendar is made by the ICC, which is very hectic. Even the schedule for the Asia Cup has been made by the ICC. Even if there are bilateral series, teams have to fulfil their commitments,” Shukla stated in India.

The ICC spokesman said however that the Asia Cup schedule was drawn up by the game’s Asian administrators.

“The ICC has nothing to do with the Asia Cup schedule, which is drawn up by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in partnership with the teams taking part,” the spokesman said.

“Similarly, the FTP is a series of bilateral arrangements between our members and the ICC’s role there is to administer those arrangements rather than draw up the schedule,” said the spokesman. “All the FTP does it to insist that a team plays all the others in a minimum of two Tests and three ODIs both at home and away over a six-year period. Any other matches above that minimum are down to each board to arrange,” the official explained.—AFP