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England in India 2008-09
BCCI wants Test dates changed for Champions League
Cricinfo staff
November 17, 2008
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The ECB is considering a request from the BCCI to push back the first Test between England and India by a day to create a larger gap between the two-match series that starts on December 11 and the Champions Twenty20 League that ends the previous night.
The request was made during meetings between BCCI and ECB officials over the weekend. Andrew Walpole, the England team's media manager, said the ECB "is yet to take a decision" on the matter and was studying the suggestion."I understand it's connected with their desire to have India players take part in the Champions League," he told Cricinfo.
Apart from easing the logistical difficulties that come with starting the Test series a day after a major tournament ends, the BCCI's request will free Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the India captain, for the final of the Champions League on December 10 - if his team, Chennai Super Kings, makes the cut.
However, if the ECB agrees to the proposal, it will leave the England team with just two days to recover between the two Tests. The first match is currently scheduled from December 11-15 in Ahmedabad, and the second from December 19-23 in Mumbai. The English camp is also understood to be keen on sticking to the departure date from India (December 24), so that the players are home for Christmas.
Dhoni is the only player from either side taking part in the inaugural Champions League and the Test series that follows. Chennai Super Kings - owned by India Cements, headed by N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary - have been drawn against Middlesex from England, Western Australia and Titans from South Africa in Group A, and will play their last group match against the Titans on December 7.
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Once again BCCI makes bold move by putting so much importance on one man that the date of an entire Test match be changed. Bravo ladies and gents today its one day and one player tommorow a week and 2 pace bowlers and from there who knows
Posted by Poruss on (November 18 2008, 15:13 PM GMT)How about Mukesh Ambani or Vijay Mallaya loaning one of their private jets to Dhoni to reach Ahmedabad soon after the IPL game is over? We have been hearing about cramped cricketing schedules for years, but now Future Tours Program has become a mess with T20 (IPL/Champions League) inclusion. All countries have to cut down on ODIs to include all three forms of the game and space them out well.
Posted by GooglyPUNKMayil on (November 18 2008, 12:33 PM GMT)BCCI should have never made such a request for an individual, how big/important he's to the team...They should instead leave it to him to take a decision... I am an Indian supporter... but WHAT THE HELL!! Postponing a touring country's schedule for a money hungry IPL? Prioritizing an Individual's participation over Country's pride? What's happening brother...Are we led by a bunch of jokers in BCCI? Sounds really silly and ECB if they oblige to BCCI's request are pledging their pride for money...
Posted by AsherCA on (November 18 2008, 10:36 AM GMT)Guys, get real. What is reported here - BCCI feel they need some help from ECB. BCCI have therefore sent them a request for assistance. It is for ECB to decide whether to accede to the request or not. If ECB accedes, good for BCCI. If not - BCCI have to suffer for their own greed.
Posted by SportySpice on (November 18 2008, 07:58 AM GMT)BCCI has the planning acumen of a two year old!! I think 7 ODIs between two sides are far too many. With 2 days break between each thats 21-22 days. reduce 1 ODI (consider it rained out!! we do have matches played close to the monsoon nowadays anyways maybe the statisticians could give some figures on matches affected by weather in recent times) and the matter is resolved!! As seen from a lot of the responses Test cricket seems to be on the wane. It is indeed exciting to watch batsmen go for some audacious shots but there is something in the grind of test cricket which makes it more satisfying. Not everyone appreciates it. Lets hope ECB does not accomodate this requests for the sake of professionalism. Lets hope CSK makes it to the finals. Let Dhoni make a choice (if he has one?) and let the test start as decided earlier. Dhoni the man with the midas touch will win the toss, elect to bat, will get a days rest while Yuvi take the English bowlers to the cleaners!!!
Posted by SportySpice on (November 18 2008, 07:58 AM GMT)BCCI has the planning acumen of a two year old!! I think 7 ODIs between two sides are far too many. With 2 days break between each thats 21-22 days. reduce 1 ODI (consider it rained out!! we do have matches played close to the monsoon nowadays anyways maybe the statisticians could give some figures on matches affected by weather in recent times) and the matter is resolved!! As seen from a lot of the responses Test cricket seems to be on the wane. It is indeed exciting to watch batsmen go for some audacious shots but there is something in the grind of test cricket which makes it more satisfying. Not everyone appreciates it. Lets hope ECB does not accomodate this requests for the sake of professionalism. Lets hope CSK makes it to the finals. Let Dhoni make a choice (if he has one?) and let the test start as decided earlier. Dhoni the man with the midas touch will win the toss, elect to bat, will get a days rest while Yuvi take the English bowlers to the cleaners!!!
Posted by ani_rulz on (November 18 2008, 07:14 AM GMT)This is a very unreasonable demand being made by BCCI, for change in the Tests schedule to accomodate the T20. If the ECB agrees to this it'll send a very clear signal that T20 has been preferred over Tests. Moreover, it'll put the people in great discomfort, who all have booked their berths in adv. Money is there to be made, no doubt. One has no right what-so-ever to stop the boards or the players from doing so, but please not at the cost of a pre-designed schedule.
Posted by Rajesh.NJ on (November 18 2008, 06:22 AM GMT)First of all, there is no guarantee that CSK would make the final of the Champions League.... Secondly, if CSK do make it to the final it's up to MS Dhoni to decide whether playing for & captaining your country in a Test Match is more important for him or captaining the CSK in the Champions League final.... And even going by BCCI's request would just a day more be enough for Dhoni to be ready for a "Test Match" ? If CSK make it to the final, he shouldn't play, it's that simple... Test Matches are planned well in advance through the Future Tours Programme (FTP) & BCCI being one of the members have already agreed for the Dec 11 start. Many people, fans & authorities would have already made arrangements. It's simply ridiculous to ask for a postponment now. BCCI should behave like a responsible Head of a Country's Cricket Establishment, not like money-spinners..... If the Test is postponed it would set a bad preedent. MS Dhoni should decide what he wants to do, no one else can.....
Posted by mshekar on (November 18 2008, 03:44 AM GMT)Some facts 1. Test tours are pre-decided as part of Future Tour Program. So all boards including BCCI, ECB, CA knew the dates of Test series between India - Eng. 2. T20 CL is a fancy idea to make money and agreed between the boards of India, Eng, Aus, Pak and SA. They knew that they had a small window between the end of India-Eng One day circus (7 ODI's is there any point in this) and mere 2 tests. 3. CL is just a money spinner and will not do any good to cricket. People who have played league cricket and been through the grind will understand. Its a great education and 20-20 is nothing but cheap Americanisation of Sport. 4. CL could have scheduled better and made sure that the finals ended atleast a day before the India-Eng test. Why ask for postponing a Series that have been pre scheduled. Please understand that the BCCI and other boards have an obligation to safeguard Test Cricket. In their greed to make money they will kill the game and take away fans from the Game.
Posted by jomtien on (November 18 2008, 01:51 AM GMT)I am one of those members of the paying public who has made arrangements to watch the 2 Tests. I have a hotel booked for the Ahmedabad game and check out on te 16th. I have a flight, which I cannot alter, to Mumbai on the 16th in the morning. Come on ECB think about us. John Ddavis