The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Players in a fix over U.S. trip

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Players in a fix over U.S. trip

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16. All set to promote cricket in the United States, a group of 25 Indian cricketers was left a confused lot on whether to undertake the assignment or not.

A late communication from the Board has upset their travel plans even though the man behind the trip and liaison between the players and the organisers, former Test opener and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, has already reached the United States to make arrangements ahead of the players' arrival.

The event is being promoted by American Pro Cricket, an organisation floated by expatriates in the United States. The 15-day event is expected to involve players from all Test-playing nations.

One of the players said they were scheduled to play four matches of 20-overs-a-side each at four venues in the United States. "It is not a commercial venture. All we are getting is airfare, boarding and lodging. It becomes a holiday for us in the United States. In any case, it does not clash with any official programme of the Board,'' said the player. The invitation for the event had come from the organisers.

The participants, drawn from different parts of the country, had secured their visas on Tuesday from the American Embassy. With less than 24 hours left for their departure came the news from the Board's office that the event was not approved by the International Cricket Council.

When contacted, the Board secretary S. K. Nair said from Thiruvananthapuram that "the event is not officially approved and the BCCI will not allow any player from India to participate.'' Mr. Nair informed that "we have received a letter in this regard from the ICC which clearly states that no player should be released to play in this event since it has not been officially recognised.''

Incidentally, one of the players informed that the organisers too had received a communication from the ICC, which lauded the efforts of American Pro Cricket for making efforts to promote the game in the United States. "How can the ICC send such contradictory messages?'' asked another player.

Mr. Nair said "the Board is not bothered about retired cricketers going and playing in such events, but we will take action against any active player from the circuit defying the ICC's stand on this issue. Under the ICC code of conduct, the players will invite trouble if they go ahead and participate.''

One of the players argued, "we are going in an individual capacity to promote cricket. This is off-season for us here and this event does not clash with any domestic engagement. Why is permission required for an event which is aimed at promoting the game? Do players take permission from the Board for charity matches or for exhibition matches involving film stars?''

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