ACB guarded on plans for September series against India
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
John Polack
28-May-2001
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 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 December 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 on Monday, 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. Sri Lanka 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.