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Cricket

Indian cricket chief claims ECB wanted Test series

29/11/2008

Lalit Modi, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), says it was English authorities who were most keen to continue the Test series between to two sides.

Although the remaining two one-day internationals have been cancelled in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on Wednesday, Modi had been criticised for plans to continue with the Test series in December.

England have returned home and captain Kevin Pietersen insists it is up to the players whether they return or not.

However, Modi told the Times of India that it was the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) who approached the BCCI to ensure the Test series went ahead.

"In a conversation with our board secretary, the England and Wales Cricket Board discussed the issue they had desired to return for the Test series," Modi told the Times of India.

The Indian cricket chief claims England's only stipulation was that a venue in the south of the country was found to host the second Test instead of Mumbai where it was originally due to be played.

Modi added: "The ECB chairman spoke to me and BCCI secretary N Srinivasan on Thursday. Their only request was to move the Test match out of Mumbai.

"We said we would examine that and as chairman of tournament and fixtures committee, I was given the task of looking at another venue.

"They asked us if it could be somewhere down in the south. Looking into the interest of the ECB, keeping in mind what is logistically possible, we moved the game to Chennai."

If England do return then they are expected to play a warm up game on December 5th against an Indian board president's XI in Baroda before the first Test in Ahmedabad on December 11th.