The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : India's chances of hosting ICC events in jeopardy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

India's chances of hosting ICC events in jeopardy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 18. India's bid to stage the next edition of the Champions Trophy stood threatened with the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressing concern at the tax laws existing in the country.

The ICC president Ehsan Mani told the media here on Sunday.

"India can host the 2006 Champions Trophy only if the ICC gets tax exemption. The ICC believes there are uncertainties in tax positions in India.''

Some of the cases pertaining to the 1996 World Cup are still pending, said the ICC president.

Mr. Mani pointed out that the ICC was given complete tax exemptions for its events in England while special arrangements had been worked out with the South African government for the last World Cup. "Similar special arrangements are being worked out to enable the ICC get total tax exemption for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies,'' he added.

Did it imply that India would not be staging any ICC event in the future unless the current tax laws were amended? "There's a good possibility it won't.''

Mr. Mani also took the opportunity to express ICC's "extreme disappointment'' at former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin "doing commentary'' for a television channel. "There's zero tolerance for corruption in cricket,'' he informed and wondered how a "player punished by his own Board'' was being allowed to be involved with the game in any way.

When asked to compare Azharuddin's case with those of Ajay Jadeja and Shane Warne, both tainted and both having performed similar roles, Mr. Mani said the cases were "not related.'' He added, "Jadeja's case is a bit complicated but in Azhar's case he's been banned by his own Board.''

The ICC president emphasised that the menace of match-fixing was by and large in control. "I don't believe fixing is going on but we can't relax.''

Mr. Mani also informed that the ICC was not in confrontation with any of its units on the issue of contracts. "We're in agreement with Board members and commercial partners on this issue.''

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