September 28, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 27, 1429

NEW DELHI, Sept 27: The India-Australia Test series gets underway on October 9 but a non-cricketing rule might just come in the way of the first Test match to be played at Bangalore.

Bangaloreans are eagerly awaiting the October 9 clash, but legal provisions could get in the way of the match being conducted at the Chinnaswamy stadium, with the Karnataka police asking the Karnataka State Cricket Association to obtain the necessary license before the match can get underway.

Some would call the police commissioner a spoilsport, but he has his own reasons - even though they might sound bureaucratic to sports lovers. He said, “In lieu of the change in the security scenario, I cannot take the risk of allowing an international level match to be held without the condition of the license being fulfilled.”

According to the rule book, the commissioner is just performing his duties and following the rules set by the Karnataka Police Act.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association knows the interest in the match and is pulling all stops to get it underway having applied for the license. KSCA officials have also met chief minister BS Yeddyurappa over the matter. So cricket lovers can hope the rule book is adhered to, and at the same time they don’t miss out on what could be a cracker of a match.—Agencies