Sharjah tournament rescheduled

It had to happen. It has.

Following some arm-twisting from the BCCI, the Sharjah organisers have agreed to reschedule the triangular series involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The original schedule called for the tournament to be played between April 4-14. The new schedule calls for the tournament to begin on April 8-20.

''We have received a request from the Indian cricket board to shift the dates of the tournament," Zahir Noorani, CBFS chief executive, said. ''We have informed Pakistan and Sri Lanka about the shifting of dates."

Interestingly, the CBFS organisers are yet to receive an okay from the Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards. "Since the teams have no commitments during this period, we hope their respective boards will agree to the suggested change of dates.''

The move by the Indian board follows the breakdown of talks with their Australian counterparts. India's suggestion, that the ACB drop a warm-up game, was turned down. In return, Australia suggested that two ODIs be scrapped -- which India was unwilling to accept, since ODIs are the money-spinners for the board. The only option left was to reschedule the Sharjah series.

It will be recalled that Rediff had, in a two-part exclusive last week, broken the news of the conflict in dates, and the backstage moves initiated by the board to resolve the issue. The Sharjah initiative is the result.

UNI adds:

Kerala's representative in the BCCI, Mr SK Nair, was quoted as saying in the newspaper that '' Kerala will not be hosting the Australia- Board President's XI match in Kochi as we had recently staged a one-day match against South Africa''.

As per the BCCI's rotation system in allocation of matches, it was another South Indian state's chance to host a touring team, he said.

Mr Nair said Kerala was expecting an important match during the England tour of India. '' We will be hosting a one-day international when England is to tour India in November this year'', he added.

The rescheduling of the Sharjah tournamnet indicates that the Indian Board is keen to participate in the tri-nation championship and was not opposed to playing against Pakistan. It is to be seen whether the Government will clear the tour to Sharjah, against the backdrop of its refusal to allow the team to go to Pakistan for a two-month tour last month.

The Government has taken the view that there was no point in having sporting links with Pakistan unless the neighbouring country stopped fomenting trouble on Indian soil.

This will be the last tournament for both India and Pakistan in Sharjah before their three-year contract with the CBFS becomes due for renewal. However, India says it had so far not taken any decision on the renewal of the contract.

India recently refused to participate in a proposed tournament in Malaysia, also involving Pakistan and the hosts.

However, BCCI secretary Lele said India's refusal to participate in the tournament had nothing to do with Pakistan. He said time constraints did not permit the team to take part in the Malaysia tournament.

Read earlier stories:

The Australian itinerary in full

Why sweat the small stuff?

Kamal Morarka on the date mess

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