No agreement on itinerary

Living up to the sub-continent’s reputation of trying to score brownie points even over small issues, the cricket boards of India and P...

Living up to the sub-continent’s reputation of trying to score brownie points even over small issues, the cricket boards of India and Pakistan have started haggling over the itinerary and the issue in contention is whether to play one-dayers first or the Tests.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board that it would like to have one-day series first followed by the three Test series while the PCB wants the vice-versa.

PCB officials have been quoted by the media as saying that the tour itinerary had not been finalised as there were differences between the two boards over it.

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According to the media, the PCB had sent yet another reminder to the BCCI asking them to confirm the itinerary. ‘‘The PCB wants that the Tests series should be played before the one-day series. Otherwise, the Test series will lose its attraction and charm and crowd after watching one-dayers may not like to watch the tests.’’

The BCCI has been quoted as saying that since India and Pakistan would both be entering the series fresh from one-day series in Australia and New Zealand, it was better to continue with it and follow it with the Tests.

PCB’s argument was that they had already accepted BCCI’s plea of reducing the number of one-dayers from seven to five although this would result in loss of huge TV and sponsors earnings. ‘‘It is not an easy situation for the Pakistan board because lot of arrangements have to be made for the series,’’ the source stated.

It is not only the itinerary that is troubling the PCB. It is also facing logistical and venues problems concerning the historic series. — (Agencies)