Services apologise for skipping Ranji match

Slapped with the ban for this year's Ranji Trophy after forfeiting the match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, Services apologised to the BCCI, and offered to play the game if fresh dates are allocated.

After their forfeiture led to angry reactions from the J&K Cricket Association, Services went into damage control mode and offered to play the game.

"Services cricket is ready to play in Srinagar. Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) has apologised to the BCCI for the administrative slip-up in despatch of its team and requested them for fresh dates," a top SSCB official said.

The BCCI banned Services from this year's Ranji Trophy cricket season for skipping the match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar citing security reasons.

The BCCI, however, said that a decision on whether to lift the ban or not would be taken by the its president after receiving and studying the apology.

"We had decided to disqualify the Services for skipping the match in Srinagar and it was for the working committee to decide on further action. If the Services have apologised it is for the president to take a decision," BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla said.

Services forfeited the Plate Division match at the Sher-E-Kashmir stadium, hosting a Ranji game after a gap of five years, leaving the J&K Cricket Association chief Farooq Abdullah livid.

Abdullah threatened to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, saying Services had negated the Government of India's positive assessment of the state's security situation.

Aware of the sensitivity of the matter, the BCCI promptly disqualified Services from this year's Ranji Trophy and said further action would be decided at its next working committee meeting.

Jammu and Kashmir earned four points from this forfeited match and will now take on Haryana from November 10-13.