ACB guarded on plans for September series

Until it receives an official response from its equivalent body in India, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has no plans to look for a new opponent for the series of three one-day international matches to be staged in the country in September.

Following a decision late last week from India to play in Asian Test Championship matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh instead, it now seems that the ACB's first-choice guest will be unable to commit to the series unless its proposed dates are the subject of significant revision.

Originally, the ACB had been seeking India's participation in matches on 14, 16 and 18 September. But, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s rumoured move to accept a request to play against Pakistan - from 13 to 17 September - as part of the Asian Test Championship series, hopes that such a contest would proceed now appear to have been scuttled. Following that Test - which will be their first in Pakistan since 1989 - the Indians are also committed to playing a home Test against Bangladesh from 21 to 25 September.

Reports emanating from India today have quoted BCCI spokesmen as confirming that a decision to decline the Australian invitation has been taken.

An ACB spokesman said late this afternoon, however, that no official response from the BCCI has been received at this stage and that no contingency plans necessarily exist at this point in time.

If it were to be received, a negative reply from India would likely force the ACB to quickly direct its efforts to seeking a positive response from another team. Sri Lanka, to which strong attention reportedly turned in original discussions, would shape as one strong contender to be invited to play in the match at the 'Gabba ground in Brisbane and the two matches at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne that are expected to form the core of the series.

South Africa, the Australians' opponent in the corresponding series last year, is not likely to receive a return invite as it will be involved in Test and one-day international cricket in neighbouring Zimbabwe throughout September.