England tour venues to be decided on October 29

The ultimatum set down by the England board, to finalise the itinerary for England's tour of India early next year by October 31, appears to have had an impact on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI had initially sent out a negative response to the ECB's request, saying that it would not be possible to meet their demand and release the itinerary by October 31. But the announcement that the existing Tour, Programme and Fixtures Committee, led by Kamal Morarka, will meet on October 29, in Delhi, came as an about turn.

Both the boards have agreed on a tentative schedule - with the Tests set to be played between March 8 and 29 and the ODIs from April 4 to 22 - for the series that will include three Tests and seven ODIs. But the announcement of the final itinerary was partly delayed owing to the postponement of the BCCI's annual general meeting, which was set for September but is yet to be reconvened. The lack of a new set of office bearers has become an obstacle to the transaction of usual business.

SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI, said that the decision was reached after "extensive discussions". "We are banking on the elections to form a new committee," he told Times of India. "But since we will take time, it was agreed to take the present panel to decide on the venues."

The committee will also take a decision on the venues for the three Tests against Sri Lanka, beginning on December 2.