Crucial BCCI initiatives overshadowed by decision on playing Pakistan

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) AC Muthiah yesterday announced that India would nottake part in any tournament involving Pakistan till the IndianGovernment took a firm stance on the matter

25-Apr-2001The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) AC Muthiah yesterday announced that India would nottake part in any tournament involving Pakistan till the IndianGovernment took a firm stance on the matter. This includestournaments like the Asia Cup, the ICC KnockOut Trophy and theWorld Cup. The announcement concerning playing Pakistanovershadowed many other important decisions taken at themeeting, including the issuing of a show-cause notice to someofficials of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) for allegedlyclaiming that the fake tickets for the India-Australia one-daymatch in Margao on April 6 were printed at the Board’s behest.”We understand that certain allegations have been made by GCAofficials. They are absolutely false and we totally denythem,” Muthiah said, adding that a show-cause notice would beissued to the association soon. He said the match-observer’sreport, which had been submitted to the Board, containednothing leading to the printing of fake tickets. “MatchObserver’s function is restricted to the ground area. He isgenerally not concerned with what goes outside it,” Muthiahsaid. He however said the Board was aware that genuine ticketholders having problems in getting entry into the stadium wasa quite a regular phenomenon and steps were being taken to setthings right. “We as responsible regulators want to ensurethat it does not happen again in the future.”The meeting also decided to challenge the decision of IncomeTax department to withdraw tax exemption to the Board sayingit was unfair. Claiming that the Board was utilising money forpurposes other than those for which the exemption was given,the IT department had slapped a notice of Rs 10 crore for thefinancial year 1997-98. “We have decided to challenge the movein court as it is arbitrary and unfair,” Muthiah said, andadded that the department did not even give the Board enoughtime to reply to its questionaire. “It raised 38 questions. Weneed time to reply to them.”The Board had also begun the exercise for the appointment of amedia manager for which the interviews will be held soon.”There are four or five short-listed candidates for the postand we wil be interviewing them soon,” Muthiah said, addingnone of them were from the media.Bids for sponsorship of the Indian cricket team were openedtoday at the meeting but a final decision was yet to be taken.There were four companies in the fray including Hero Honda andSporting Frontiers and Muthiah said if the bids “fall short ofwhat we want we may invite fresh bids.” The need for newsponsors arose after ITC withdrew its long association withIndian cricket following Government directive banningcigarrette manufacturing firms from advertising in sports.The meeting approved the budgets for India’s tour of Zimbabweand Sri Lanka. While Rs 2.04 crores were approved for Zimbabwetour starting next month, Rs 4.47 crores were earmarked forthe tour of Sri Lanka, tentatively starting on July 16.On the affilitations to the four state associations ofChatisgarh, Uttaranchal, Pondicherry and Jharkhand, Muthiahsaid the issue will be dealt with by the General Body as theworking committee was not empowered to take a decision in thisregard.He also announced the setting up of five zonal academies, onthe lines of National Cricket Academy, which will startfunctioning from May 1. “In addition, if the stateassociations want to start academies for Under-14 and Under-16players, they are free to do so provided they follow theBoard’s guidelines in this regard. However the Board would notprovide any subsidies to these academies,” he said.