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BCCI proposes ODI in Ahmedabad

By Onkar Singh in Delhi
Last updated on: February 17, 2005 20:14 IST
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India has proposed that the Pakistan team plays a One-Day International in Ahmedabad and a Test in Kolkata on their upcoming tour of India.

Earlier reports

 



Ready to play ODI in Ahmedabad: PCB

Decision on Ahmedabad in 24 hrs: PCB

Pak ready to play in Mumbai: Shaharyar


Making the announcement, after the BCCI working committee meeting in Delhi on Thursday, BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra also said the start of the tour could be delayed by four-five days.

The Pakistani cricket team is scheduled to arrive on February 25 to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals, but with the stalemate over Ahmedabad hosting one of the Tests -- Mohali and Bangalore will host the other two -- still unresolved, the BCCI chief said the start could be delayed.

Mahendra said the Pakistan Cricket Board would review the proposal on Friday.

The BCCI's latest proposal comes in the wake of PCB's refusal to play a Test in Ahmedabad, which witnessed communal riots in 2002, and preference to play in Mumbai instead.

Earlier on Thursday, Mahendra spoke with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan from International Cricket Council chairman Ehsan Mani's room at the Taj Palace in Delhi before joining the working committee meeting.

"Yes, I spoke to Shaharyar Khan in the presence of Mr Mani and talked to him about the tour. We have offered to shift the Test match from Ahmedabad to Kolkata provided the Pakistan Cricket Board accedes to our request to play an additional one-dayer at Ahmedabad.

"We hope to get a reply by tomorrow and depending upon it we would make necessary changes in the itinerary of the Pakistan cricket team and announce the same to the media in next couple of days," Mahendra said.

Asked why the Pakistani team is delaying its arrival in India, he replied that it is because the television rights issue has not yet been settled due to a stay order from the Madras high court.

"We expect the matter to be settled by Monday. And in case there is a delay we may move the Supreme court. The Pakistan team now might arrive either on February 28 or a day later," he clarified, adding the television rights' issue will not be taken up until the Board receives a directive from the court.

He disagreed with reports that the Delhi and District Cricket Association ground may not be ready in time to host the fifth and final one-day match against the Pakistanis on April 9.

"A senior official of DDCA was present at the meeting and he has assured us that the ground would be ready in time for the match. The Board may also send a team of experts to give its report in case it feels necessary," he said, but refused to give any time frame about inspection of the wickets and ground at the DDCA.

He said according to the rotation policy it is Kolkatta's turn to host a match and since Ahmedabad will not host the Test against the Pakistan team it was allotted one.

"I have no reason to believe that Kolkata would not be ready in time for the match," he added.

The working committee also approved the appointment of John Gloster as the physiotherapist of the Indian team.

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