BCCI permits wives to accompany players to Sharjah

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to honour a few more players back home after the Tri-nation tournament in Sharjah is over, informs Asif Iqbal, the CBFS co-ordinator. On a query by this correspondent on why two different policies have been adopted by the CBFS this time for honouring cricketers from Pakistan and India, Asif, speaking from Sharjah said, "we have decided to honour India's three former Test cricketers (current selection committee chairman Chandu Borde, Bapu Nadkarni and Maninder Singh) and two current Pakistan players (present captain Moin Khan and Saeed Anwar). However, the balance amount will be sent to the Pakistan Board who will honour a few more players".

The CBFS is not to honour any member of the touring South African team. However, a fixed amount of guarantee money is to be paid to the team. The same amount will be utilised for cricket development by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). The CBFS has honoured a few players from other countries in the past, but the concept was started mainly for Indian and Pakistani players some 19 years ago.

The CBFS has invited cricket officials from all the participating countries and the ICC. The ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya is likely to make a visit. The former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur, BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele and treasurer Kishore Rungta are likely to be the guests of the CBFS.

Since all the matches are to be played on one ground and the players don't have to travel unlike on a tour to any other country, the cricketers' wives and girl-friends are certain to join them. The South African cricketers' wives and girl-friends didn't turn up for any of the centres in India. However, they are certain to be present in Dubai and Sharjah for the shopping festivals. Romi, the wife of Indian coach Kapil Dev, with their daughter, is in Sharjah. Azharuddin's wife Sangeeta too never misses a trip to Sharjah. The BCCI seems to have permitted all players to have them on tour.