BCCI rejects ICC request to reschedule IPL match

NEW DELHI: The BCCI has turned down ICC’S request to reschedule an IPL match in Kolkata during its annual board meeting there from April 22-26. After a long time ICC is having its high profile meeting in Kolkata and the world body wanted BCCI to ensure that its members could at least watch a home match of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “There was a specific request from ICC as they wanted member delegates to watch an

IPL game. However between April 22 and 26, there are no home games of KKR at Eden Gardens,” said a senior BCCI official.

KKR are playing a home match on April 16 and their next home game is on May 3. From April 22-26, matches will be held in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Indore, Bangalore and Jaipur. “If we have to reschedule it, the entire itinerary would be in a disarray. So we told them that it’s not possible to have an IPL match rescheduled,” the official added. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms large over PCB chairman Najam Sethi’s attendance. The meeting is being held in Kolkata and not in Mumbai specifically to avoid any political protest over the PCB delegate attending a meeting in India. However Sethi may end up not getting an Indian visa in the prevailing political situation. “If Sethi doesn’t get a visa, it might well be an indicator about the chances of Pakistan procuring visas for the Asia Cup in September,” the official said.