CHENNAI: BCCI will meet Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Wednesday to discuss the potential inclusion of a series against Pakistan in the Future Tours Programme as part of the upcoming ICC Test championship.
It is understood that the meeting was called after BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary had indicated last week that the board was trying its best to keep Pakistan away from the FTP. Express understands that Choudhary’s comment hasn’t gone down well with the Union Sports Ministry as it had not issued any directives to the BCCI regarding playing Pakistan. The Ministry always had a policy of not opposing India playing Pakistan in ICC events.
In the past, the Centre had prevented India from touring Pakistan last year citing political tension between the two. However, it didn’t oppose the teams playing each other in ICC events.
The ICC, which has drawn up a Test World Championship, wants each member to play each other at least once. Each team will play at least three Tests series home and away with members free to negotiate more. The league, which will begin in 2019 and run till 2021, was recently approved, and the BCCI is already finalising the FTP. However, even before the plan was put on paper, Choudhary hinted that playing Pakistan won’t be an option under current circumstances.
It is understood that following the reports, ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar held talks with the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and apprised them of the situation, as isolating Pakistan would affect the game in general and it would cause the ICC Test Championship to lose its purpose. With treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary also not kept in the loop, it is understood that the CoA stepped in on Tuesday in Mumbai, and has directed BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, game development manager Ratnakar Shetty to meet the Union Sports Ministry to solve the impasse. It is also learnt that Amitabh Choudary won’t be part of the meeting in Delhi.
It is reliably learnt that the Sports Ministry won’t stop BCCI from including a series against Pakistan as it falls directly under the ICC Test championship. If India commit and then forfeit, then Pakistan will potentially gain points.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com