The uncertainty over Indian players' participation in next month's Sri Lankan Premier League will continue after Thursday’s meeting between the top brass of Sri Lanka Cricket and BCCI has been put off due to pressing engagements of SLC officials.
Published: Jun 22, 2011, 11:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 22, 2011, 11:36 PM (IST)
BCCI recently refused NOC to twelve Indian players who were listed to participate in SLPL © Getty Images
Colombo: Jun 22, 2011
The uncertainty over Indian players’ participation in next month’s Sri Lankan Premier League will continue after Thursday’s meeting between the top brass of Sri Lanka Cricket and BCCI has been put off due to pressing engagements of SLC officials.
On the advice of Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindanda Aluthgamage, SLC chairman DS de Silva and secretary Nishantha Ranatunga were scheduled to meet the BCCI officials tomorrow to sort out the issue at the earliest.
But Aluthgamage said the meeting has been put off for the time being but SLC officials were in touch with their Indian counterparts to find out a viable solution to the issue.
“The meeting between SLC and BCCI officials won’t take place as scheduled. We have an urgent meeting in the Parliament tomorrow, so they won’t be able to travel to India,” Aluthgamage said.
“But they (SLC officials) are talking to them (BCCI) on phone and will come in future. We are still trying to negotiate and get the (Indian) players back.”
BCCI recently refused No Objection Certificates to 12 Indian players — Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Manoj Tiwary, Saurabh Tiwary, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Manish Pandey and Paul Valthaty — to play in the SLPL, saying that the event is being organised by a private party based in Singapore on behalf of SLC.
The BCCI also claims that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has a stake in the Singapore-based company which has been entrusted with the responsibility of organising the tournament.
But the Sri Lankan Sports Minister said Modi had nothing to do with SLPL.
“I sought details about the Singapore company. I asked SLC officials to bring the profile and other details about the company to check whether he (Modi) is involved.
“When I asked the Cricket Board (SLC), they said 100 per cent he is not involved,” Aluthgamage said.
© PTI
