BCCI quashes ICC’s request over rescheduling of IPL fixture

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has given a strong response. The Board has somewhat rejected the request of world cricket board International Cricket Council (ICC), regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL), a fixture in Kolkata.

“If we have to reschedule it, the entire itinerary would be in a disarray. We told them that it’s not possible to have an IPL match rescheduled,” BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Pertinently, the Board had turned down the request when ICC asked the cash-rich body – to slot in one of the matches in Kolkata.

The defending champions Mumbai Indians will face off Chennai Super Kings in the curtain-raiser. The first match is beginning on April 7 at iconic Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai.

On the other hand, the all-important meeting is overlapping with the lucrative professional domestic T20 league. ICC has urged to the Indian Board to take Kolkata Knight Riders’ match into consideration.

Moreover, the reports suggested the Dubai-based Board wants to see its members to be the part of the homebound match.

“Yes, there was a specific request from ICC as they wanted its various member delegates to watch an IPL game,” the official added.

The request has been made for the Annual board meeting is scheduled for April 22-26 in Kolkata.

“However between April 22 and 26, there are no home games of KKR at the Eden Gardens,” senior official further added.

Interestingly, Knight Riders will play at home on April 16, and they will return to the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium on May 3.

The meeting of the ICC delegation in slated in Kolkata. The fixtures of the upcoming eleventh IPL edition will be held in Mumbai, Indore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Jaipur respectively.

On the other side, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), chairman Najam Sethi’s involvement seems bleak at the moment.

“If Sethi doesn’t get visa, it might well be an indicator about the chances of Pakistan team procuring visa during the Asia Cup in September,” BCCI official concludes.

The ICC has pushed forward the case to hold the Annual meeting, in Kolkata.

On the other side, the situation has been sour between both the neighboring countries. The escalations of tension across the borders have already raised a question for the upcoming Asia Cup.

While reflecting on the conclusion, BCCI already made it clear that government would decide the rest.

And, here’s the newsfeed:

Also read: Sourav Ganguly writes to Board regarding failure of implementation of Lodha Reforms

Ottis Gibson attests Team India’s bowling made a huge difference