Indian news round-up

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), AC Muthiah said on Sunday that the Board is yet to get the Indian Government's clearance for the proposed Sahara Cup one day series against Pakistan in Toronto in September.

Speaking to the Press Trust of India in New Delhi, Muthiah said that it is more than a month since the Board had applied for the Governmental clearence which is yet to come and added that he expected the sanction to come in time for the tour.

Muthiah said that the Board had taken the Government's clearence on previous tours as well, implying that this was not the first time the government's sanction was sought, taking into consideration the opponents, Pakistan.

Former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar has delayed his return to India from London, in view of the serious nature of chicken pox that he has contracted. PTI, quoting family sources, said that they were not aware of his return at the moment.

Tendulkar was to lead the Asian XI in the charity match against the Rest of the World XI at the Oval but had to pull out at the eleventh hour after it was confirmed that he had contracted chicken pox. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram led the side in his absence.

The Director (Operations) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Yawar Saeed said on Sunday that he was still expecting the confirmation of the proposed Indian tour of Pakistan at the end of the year.

Speaking to the web site Go4Cricket, Saeed said that the BCCI secretary JY Lele said the clearence regarding the tour should be obtained by Monday. Saeed added that Lele remarked that the BCCI was keen on sending a team to Pakistan but it would all depend on the clearance from the Foreign Affiars Ministry.

Meanwhile PCB Chairman Tauqir Zia expressed optimism about the Indian tour to Pakistan. But he added he would have been sure of the tour but India's pull out of the Under-15 Asia Cup left the proposed tour in some doubt.