BCCI to abide by government decision

Board president A C Muthiah on Saturday said the BCCI will abide by whatever the government decides on India's participation in a proposed triangular one-day cricket tournament also involving Pakistan and Bangladesh in Sharjah.

"The Asian Cricket Council approached BCCI asking whether it can send a team to play in Sharjah involving Pakistan and Bangladesh to raise funds for the Gujarat quake victims," Muthiah said here adding, "even then, it was made clear to them that it could be possible only if the government gave the clearance for the trip.

He said now that the government was taking a different stand "I can only say that we, in the BCCI, will accept the government decision and abide by it," he said.

The tri-series, mooted by Asian Cricket Council's Finance wing to raise funds for Gujarat earthquake victims and to be organised by the Cricketers' Benefit Series (CBFS), is proposed to be played from February 8 to 11.

Government today said it had not yet cleared India's participation and a final decision would be taken only after the return of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to the country on Monday.

During the day, Home Minister L K Advani spoke to Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh on the issue and drew his attention to press reports on the possibility of the triangular series being held in Sharjah.

Advani was of the view that if the tournament is at all to be held for the benefit of quake-hit people, it should be played in India, official sources said. They said Advani felt that the matter should be referred to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a final decision.