Sri Lanka - Watching and waiting
Updated - 6/1/2009 - DailyMirror.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is on the verge of losing millions of dollars as the politics continue to interfere with the game’s administration and the controlling body is without a proper head.
According to Indian cricket sources, Board of Control for Cricket in India (India) which is keen to offer a lucrative ODI series to Sri Lanka, are still circumspect about making a firm commitment for such a tour due to the uncertain situation at the SLC which is without an appointed or elected set office bearers to handle its affairs.
After cancelling their scheduled tour to Pakistan, Indian cricket officials have been gracious enough to consider touring Sri Lanka for an ODI series which would easily bring more than US $10 million to the cash strapped SLC coffers, but the delay in appointing a new interim committee to SLC by the Sports Minister has made Indian officials think twice about a series before committing themselves, sources added.
The relations between SLC and BCCI which is the financial powerhouse of global cricket had been strained and was at the lowest point in history during the term of the SLC’s recently sacked interim committee under Arjuna Ranatunga. BCCI had completely cut off all ties and refused to give any tours while also threatening to cancel some of the tours that were due.
But the BCCI stance mellowed with the sacking of Ranatunga and was ready to offer SLC a tour as a token of friendship.
However, a BCCI official indicated that they would now adopt a policy of waiting till SLC gets a new administration to see whether the new set of officials would take a friendly attitude towards India, as they would not be able to go back once they make a commitment for a tour.
There was speculation in recent weeks that Ranatunga was likely to make a comeback, and the reports have put the Indian officials on the backfoot on the prospects of offering a tour, sources added.
Meanwhile latest reports from India said that the discussed one-day series against Sri Lanka still remained speculation according to the BCCI.
BCCI officials have said that they have requested New Zealand Cricket for an extra test during their forthcoming tour to New Zealand and the possibility of an ODI series against Sri Lanka depended on the response they get from New Zealand.
BCCI’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, had said that they are yet to exchange any official written communication with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on the speculated tour. "What is official so far is that we have requested New Zealand to accommodate an extra Test to the series in March, We are waiting for a response from their side," Shetty was quoted as saying.
Asked about the one-day series against Sri Lanka, Shetty had admitted there "may have been some verbal communication" between certain Indian and Sri Lankan officials on the matter. "We will move on any such series only after the New Zealand schedule is confirmed. We expect a positive response from New Zealand but they are the home board and will have to consider the logistics at their end."
A New Zealand Cricket (NZC) official, meanwhile, had said that they would soon take a decision on India’s request. "We are considering the request and a decision is likely to come out this week," Stephen Hill, NZC spokesperson, said.
Indian will leave for New Zealand in the third week of February to play three tests and 5 ODIs.
(BCCI) treasurer Mohinder Pandove said "Talks with the Sri Lankan board are underway but nothing has been finalised yet," and added that "Nothing more can be said about it for now", indicating that they are still unsure about the prospects.
"We are discussing the possibility of playing a short series against Sri Lanka. We are working on an itinerary which will be acceptable to both the Boards", Pandove had said.
India’s cricket board said it had lost almost $25 million from the scrapping of two one-day games against England and a tour to Pakistan, plus the postponement of the 2008 Champions Trophy.
SLC is expected to earn more than 2.5 million US dollars per every match Indian would play in Sri Lanka.
Sources said that apart from a series in Sri Lanka BCCI officials were keen to invite Sri Lanka for three-match ODI series India.However, if India fails to confirm the tour soon, SLC would not be in a position to host the planned series due to logistical reasons which involves issues such as Organising the tour, security, pitches, sponsors, TV sponsors, travel arrangements, hotel accommodation which would require at lease four to five weeks.
So unless SLC gets an interim committee friendly towards BCCI within a day or two, a series against India would simply be impossible, sources added.
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