Lele: Government will decide about touring Pakistan

"This is to announce that Jet Airways flight 9W 485 to Bangalore is delayed by three hours. Any inconvenience caused is regretted." Well, one is resigned to these things happening in airlines. A technical snag, an aircraft re routed, anything could have caused the delay. Unfortunately, airlines do not consider it their prerogative to entertain passengers waiting for a delayed flight. All one can do is sit in the waiting lounge and look longingly at other flights taking off.

However they do provide television sets in these lounges. A news bulletin blared loudly with few interested faces watching. When the name AC Muthiah was mentioned, three heads from the far end of the room turned with interest.

Raj Singh Dungarpur, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jaywant Lele, secretary, BCCI and Sharad Diwadkar, executive secretary, BCCI watched keenly although they may not have understood much Tamil. The trio stood up, making themselves very visible to all that recognised them. Standing over six feet tall, Dungarpur was a study in contrast to the diminutive Lele. When approached, the contrast was even more obvious as the double bass voice of Dungarpur oozed courtesy. The soprano Lele was reticent to talk to a journalist.

When asked whether the agenda of the working committee was more packed than usual, Dungarpur said "Not at all. To have 15 items to discuss is hardly unusual for the BCCI." On this count Lele was quick to agree, "this is just an administrative meeting really. Nothing unusual. Just the end of year meeting." Dungarpur was particularly pleased about the progress of the National Cricket Academy set up earlier this year at Bangalore. "Everything is running perfectly smoothly there. I'm very happy with what has been achieved. People have put in some excellent work there" he said. Dungarpur had been instrumental in getting things set up at the academy. On the topic of India's touring Pakistan, Lele was once again quick to answer "that decision is for the Indian Government to make." And what of the less controversial tours to India by Australia and Zimbabwe? "The venues will be decided strictly on a rotation basis. We will just finalise and announce them," came the reply from Lele.

Before the conversation moved on to more sensational pastures, it was time to leave. Although the three present might have been less than overawed by the two days of meetings they had ahead of them, it is certain that they will have their work cut out.