XtraTime Web Desk: Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) turned down the request of International Cricket Council (ICC) to reschedule an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Kolkata during the Annual board meeting in Kolkata from April 22-26.
After a long time ICC scheduled it’s high profile meeting in Kolkata as ICC wanted to ensure that the members to watch Kolkata Knight Riders to play in their home ground.
Yes, there was a specific request from ICC as they wanted its various member delegates to watch an IPL game. However between April 22 and 26, there are no home games of KKR at the Eden Gardens,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
KKR is playing a home match on April 16 and their next home game is on May 3.
Between April 22nd to 26th, 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, it was also known that 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 PCB delegate attending a meeting in India.
However, Sethi may end up not getting the Indian visa in prevailing volatile situation.
“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,” the official said.