BCCI-ECB faceoff continues

The face-off between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and England's cricket board over playing a sixth one day international in January is no nearer resolution.

Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said here today that the issue was not about a single ODI, but about an entire package. It is, Dalmiya said, unfair that England plays just three Tests and five ODIs in course of its ongoing tour of India, while India is obliged to play four Tests and seven ODIs in England next summer.

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“I thought that the ICC wanted reciprocal tours. It has been decided that all tours will be mutual an equal, so if we play four Tests there, aren't we within our rights to ask for the same number of Tests in India?" Dalmiya demanded.

It is important, the BCCI president said, to resolve this issue in light of England's next tour of India in 2006. “We completely understand that the Englishmen have a genuine difficulty as they have sold tickets for the four Tests, and also earmarked the venues -- so we have agreed to play the four Tests next summer. Otherwise, it does not make sense for us to play four Tests when they are only prepared to play three Tests," Dalmiya said.

He added, however, that if England wanted four-Test series with India here on, then it would have to agree to a five Test series in India in 2006 to make up for the one India has missed out on this year.

Dalmiya said the ECB had offered monetary question, but that the offer had been rejected. "It is about equality, not money," Dalmiya said.

Dalmiya said that contrary to reports in the British media, his predecessor, Dr A C Muthiah, had not signed any contract but merely accepted a proposed itinerary. "As board president, I cannot accept such an agreement," Dalmiya said, while reiterating his demand that India be accorded equal status through the cricketing world.

“We have asked them to give us an extra Test when they come here in 2006, as also a sixth ODI in India this January -- only on that condition will we agree to play the fourth Test in England this summer," Dalmiya said.

“We are in discussion, and expect that the issue will be resolved in the next two to three days, since the associations also need time to get the venues ready."

And what if England refuses to play the sixth ODI? “It is a package deal," Dalmiya warned. "If one falls out, then the entire package falls out.”

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