England agree to play sixth one-dayer

India and England have sorted out the controversy over the issue of an extra cricket match, with the latter agreeing to play a sixth one-day international during the second half their India tour next month, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah said in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Shah said the BCCI would like the match to be played on January 19 before the Kolkata one-dayer, either at Cuttuck, Baroda or Rajkot. However, the exact date and venue is undecided as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants the team, which will return on January 12 after a Christmas and New Year break, to play the sixth tie on February 5 after the Mumbai match, on February 3, 2002.

Shah said the ECB had written to him saying they are ready to play a sixth one-dayer. The BCCI is also trying to get a five-match Test series during England's tour of India in 2006.

"In principle, we have agreed but I can give a clear picture only after the on-going Test series is through," Shah added.

But a spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) responded by saying: "Nothing has been agreed. We are still in ongoing discussions."

Mail Cricket Editor