ATC fixtures finalised after clarification from BCCI: Dalmiya

The Asian Cricket Council had worked out the Asian Test Championship fixtures after receiving the Board of Control for Cricket in India's clarification on its government policies regarding cricketing ties with Pakistan, former ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya said in Kolkata on Wednesday.

"The fixtures were drawn up after receiving a clarification from the Indian Board. During the (Lahore) meeting, the BCCI had produced a clarification received from the Union Sports Ministry in response to its queries," Dalmiya, currently chairman of the Asian Cricket Foundation which will implement ACC's programmes, told a press conference.

According to the schedule, India is to play Pakistan in Karachi from September 13 to 17.

Dalmiya said the Indian government, in its letter to the BCCI, had clarified that as per its general policy India could continue to play against Pakistan in multilateral tournaments at regular venues, including India and Pakistan.

Taking strong exception to the "unilateral announcement" that India will play Pakistan, Sports Minister Uma Bharti had on Monday pulled up BCCI President AC Muthiah for giving an assurance to the ACC on the issue of playing against Pakistan.

Expressing unhappiness over the Indian Board's stand, she said that to play Pakistan, the BCCI has to first give a written proposal to the Sports Ministry which in turn would forward it to the Ministry of External Affairs for a final decision.

Dalmiya, who released copies of the communication between Muthiah and the Sports Ministry, said the Indian Board had produced the Sports Ministry's letter at the Lahore conclave.

Dalmiya said that the representatives of the four Test playing countries from Asia who attended the Lahore meeting had agreed to participate in the ACC's senior and junior events.

Defending the ACC's decision to draw up the fixtures, Dalmiya said, "We were aware of the strain in cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. That is why we wanted something in writing from the Indian Board. Since they had clarified our queries, we went ahead in finalising the fixtures".

As per copies of letters released by Dalmiya, the BCCI President Muthiah had sought clarification from the Sports Ministry on a "clear-cut" policy regarding playing Pakistan and definition of nonregular venues.

Muthiah's letter dated April 25, contrary to Sports Minister Bharti's statement that the Board had not intimated the proposals regarding playing Pakistan in the Asian Test championship (ATC), had clearly stated that India and Pakistan would be required to play each other in the forthcoming Asia Cup and ATC, events held on a rotational basis.

The Board's letter said that in the absence of a clear-cut policy guidelines from the government on venues and opponents, the BCCI was unable to have a definite cricket calendar for the Indian team in the period to follow. The letter had sought policy guidelines from the government on six specific points.

In response to Muthiah's letter, the Sports Ministry clarified that "regarding participation of India in tournaments indicated in the ICC calendar, it is stated that participation in such events is covered under the general policy that India will continue to play Pakistan in multilateral tournaments at regular venues."

The Sports Ministry's letter, dated May 10 and signed by Joint Secretary BK Das, said that there was no change in the government stand regarding bilateral series against Pakistan.

"Regarding bilateral contests between India and Pakistan, the Government after careful consideration has already decided that in the prevailing circumstances it would be inappropriate for the Indian team to participate in a two-nation tournament between India and Pakistan".

On the definition of non-regular venues, the ministry said that "we consider all venues in Test playing countries and venues recognised by the ICC for one-day internationals such as Kenya as regular venues".

The Ministry also clarified that since the ICC Knockout and World Cup are multilateral tournaments, the ministry has no objection to the Indian cricket team playing in these tournaments despite the fact that certain matches within these tournaments may be played between India and Pakistan either in India or in Pakistan.