PCB upset at Dalmiya jumping the gun

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly upset that Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian board, held his press conference to announce the itinerary of India's tour to Pakistan earlier than scheduled. The schedule for the tour was to be announced simultaneously by the two boards, with Dalmiya holding a press conference at 5pm IST, and Rameez Raja, PCB's CEO, holding it at the same time, at 4.30 pm Pakistan time. (Pakistan is half-an-hour behind India.) However, Dalmiya's press conference began at 4.40pm IST. The tour schedule was later touted in the media as a victory of the BCCI over the PCB.

Speaking to the Indian Express, Rameez said: "We [Dalmiya and he] had agreed that we announce it at a promised time. But the BCCI gave out the details half-an-hour before us. I will certainly speak to Mr Dalmiya about it."

Dalmiya refused to be drawn into the matter, saying that it was a controversy created by the media. The puzzling aspect of the story, however, was that journalists in India knew a day in advance that Dalmiya's press conference would be at 4.30pm the next day, which makes it all the more curious that the PCB did not know. The PCB, in fact, seems to have panicked to try to make their announcements before the Indian one. Agha Akbar Khan, the sports editor of the Lahore newspaper, The Nation, told The Indian Express about the confusion: "The whole event was so hurriedly organised that everything happened at the last minute. The PCB was not aware of Dalmiya's announcements and when they got to know they sent out invites to one and all. Luckily, one of my reporters was around and could attend the briefing.

"Dalmiya announcing the itinerary is a minor issue," he concluded, "but the whole thing gives me a feeling that Indians want to show that they are in charge."