The Rediff Interview / Niranjan Shah

'I've been told tickets for the England-India series have already been sold out'

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah says all tickets for the forthcoming Test series this summer between England and India, as well as the triangular matches between England, India and Sir Lanka, have been sold out. Shah, who is visiting London, also told rediff.com in an exclusive interview that security protection for Indian players was one of the issues raised during his discussions with the English Cricket Board.

Excerpts from a conversation Shah had with Shyam Bhatia:

Have you been discussing security for our players when they come to England this summer ?

That is what we are discussing with the English Cricket Board and it is not like it was when our team last came in 1996. At that time security was not that much of a concern; not like in today's world. So we as a board have been in discussion with the ECB about security.

As you know there is a threat already on Ganguly and Tendulkar, so we have to take extra precaution and that is what we have communicated to the ECB. At the end of this month we are sending two people, two representatives from India, to look at all the problems. These will be BCCI representatives.

Could you remind us what the threats were all about ?

There are so many types of threats, you have to be extra careful and there is nothing wrong if we are careful.

What has been the reaction of the ECB so far ?

The ECB also knows what is the security requirement in the present world. So they are also taking care of it and they must be also in contact with their Home Office. That is why we would like to talk to the ECB and they may in turn like to talk to the British Home Office to see that all the security is done properly. When they were in India we took their representative to out Home Office and gave them assurance that there would not be any problem. After that it is for the government to take all the care that is necessary.

Do you want guards around the players for 24 hours ?

That depends on security procedures of individual countries. Like in India we give guards and there are a lot of policemen. Maybe, here there would be more use of intelligence. That is up to the responsible country to take the care.

Will you ask for 24-hour protection for Ganguly and Tendulkar, just as they enjoy in India ?

No we will not ask; we will let it take its own course and let the ECB decide. The ECB and the British Home Office should decide what level of security they want to give them. We are also in contact with our High Commissioner here in London and our president has written a letter about security arrangements in general and about Sachin and Sourav.

What are the plans so far about the start up dates and other arrangements for the Tests ?

In England there are a lot of our Indian communities. So this series will probably arouse a lot of interest. England is also looking for a good series here; we are also looking for a good series. It's good that we are in the second half of the summer so this series will be very interesting. Our team at the moment is really good, England is also playing well, so it will be a good series.

When is kick-off time ?

Our team will come to England in the second week of June. We are playing four Tests, as well as the triangular matches between India, England and Sri Lanka. First we are playing the triangular and then the four Tests. The triangular will be all over England; there will be no one-day matches against England alone. It will be part of the triangular.

So England, Sri Lanka and India will play with each other, two matches each minimum, and then the top two will play the final at Lord's.

Is this going to be a two or three months programme?

Our team is coming to England on 18 June and going back on about the 9th of September. It's how it's always been. When you're in England it's always a long tour.

Here in England there is talk of how to make cricket less dull, but that problem does not exist in India ?

Yes, cricket is the first game in India. All the grounds are full whenever there is a match. I was just talking to my equivalent here, Tim Lamb, and he told me they have sold out all the tickets already for the forthcoming series. From June to September, they are sold out.

How is the revenue split from these matches?

Whenever it is a home series, the home board gets all the money. But when they come to our country all the gate receipts, TV rights, all goes to us. That is a set down procedure between all Test-playing nations.

What revenues were generated when England last came to India?

Revenue is not from one thing only. It's like if we give every year a contract to, say, Prasar Bharati -- that's Rs 50 crores [500 million] per year. A ball park figure for the income generated when the England team came is Rs 14 to 15 crores [140-150 million].

England will also earn a lot of money this time because they will have sold television rights etc.

When Ganguly wrote in India about the 'cribbing' of English cricketers a number of senior commentators called for his axing from various cricket committees. What has happened since then ?

He's already there with the Cricket Committee Playing, in the ICC. It was his personal view and had nothing to do with his membership of any committee. If there were strong reactions in England, that should have nothing to do with his professional status.

Are relations between the Indian board and the ECB better?

Yes, relations between the ECB and our Indian board are good. We are both looking for a very nice series.

Did Mike Denness's suspension of the six players affect relations?

Yes, there have been many issues at the ICC where both boards do not agree. But that has nothing to do with when teams come and both countries play. That generates the maximum amount of interest in the country. That is more important. Differences within the ICC have nothing do with the playing cycle between two countries.

What about the umpires?

Now there is no problem with the umpires. ICC has already constituted an elite panel where only eight umpires will take part. These will all be neutral umpires; so even if there is a mistake that will not be affect anything.

So whatever differences there have been are now in the past?

Yes, those are the past. Things may go on in the ICC, there may be other differences, but each country needs the other for the cricket.

Some believe that the centre of power for cricket has shifted to Bombay from London. Do you believe countries other than England should have a greater say in the ICC now ?

Issue-wise, countries other than England might be together sometimes. More people watch cricket in the subcontinent. It has major game status in the subcontinent. If you look at it like that the power will shift a little to the subcontinent because cricket is the main game there.

Are relations good between you and the Asian board?

We are part of the Asian Cricket Conference and we have good relations. They give us support. The only problem at the moment is trying to resume the series between India and Pakistan. Because of government intervention we cannot take part, but maybe it's all in the future.

Photograph: Shyam Bhatia

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