'Would be nice if Lorgat apologises' - Dalmiya

More than six weeks after Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat offered to "apologise" to anyone who he had offended in the BCCI, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the interim BCCI chief, has welcomed Lorgat's offer.

"Lorgat is a nice gentleman but it would be nice of him if he apologises," Dalmiya said in Kolkata, when asked about his reaction to Lorgat's offer that was made immediately after he was appointed the CSA chief executive despite the BCCI raising its objections.

While this may appear as softening of the BCCI's stand with Lorgat, the deadlock over the BCCI going to trim what was till a few days ago a tour of three Tests, seven ODIs and two Twenty20s, prevailed for another day.

While Dalmiya reiterated what the BCCI president N Srinivasan had said three days ago that "the tour is on", there was no formal exchange between representatives of the two boards. Even though Srinivasan, board secretary Sanjay Patel and treasurer Ravi Savant were together for most of the day along with other key executives at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, it was understood that the South Africa tour itinerary "wasn't even mentioned" in their discussions.

"The sole purpose of the meeting was to proof read and sign the annual report before it goes for printing ahead of the AGM," said an insider who was a part of the proceedings.

Across the continent, CSA indicated it would send out a release on Wednesday afternoon to reassure the fans and thank them for their support, but later said they would "try for tomorrow". Officials contacted at various franchises said they had no knowledge of any progress on the BCCI-CSA issue and were awaiting further instructions, although many of them expressed concern over a curtailed tour.

It appears that unless CSA accedes to the cricket bosses in India, the situation is unlikely to change. At least till the BCCI AGM on September 29.