The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Aussies say no to tri-series

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Thursday, May 06, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Aussies say no to tri-series

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 5. Australia has turned down an offer to participate in a tri-series in India when it arrives in October this year.

Confirming this, the Board Secretary S. K. Nair said efforts were on to squeeze in a couple of Tests against South Africa, which is scheduled to play just a seven-match one-day series.

Cricket Australia has cited a tight schedule as the reason for not accommodating a one-day series. "Australia comes to India straight from England after the ICC Champions Trophy. They have agreed to play four Tests and we are happy with the programme. The schedule is tight though. The Australians will play a three-day warm-up match followed by two back-to-back Tests. There will be a gap of six days before the next two Tests are played back-to-back. The gap is to enable the teams relax,'' informed Mr. Nair.

Mr. Nair said the ICC's programme leaves little scope for any changes in the scheduling of tours. "Australia is hosting Pakistan immediately after the series in India and we can understand their concerns regarding players' fitness,'' he added.

The South Africans too have a hectic tour of India but the Board is keen to cut down on the number of one-day matches in order to accommodate two Tests. "Ideally we would like to play two Tests and three one-day matches. The programme is tentative and we are in touch with the South African officials. We are hopeful of hosting two Tests against South Africa,'' said Mr. Nair.

The Indian cricketers begin the new season with the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July followed by a tri-series in Holland, involving Pakistan and Australia. The format is one-off matches followed by a final. The Indian team will then play three one-day matches with England in England before the ICC Champions Trophy.

Mr. Nair confirmed that efforts were on to host Pakistan for a short series in March-April next year.

Regarding the controversy about the India-Pakistan charity match in Abu Dhabi this month, Mr. Nair said: "we have followed rules in this matter. The request from the UAE Board came only a few days back and it was too late for us to take a decision."

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