JOHANNESBURG: Arrangements for India’s scheduled tour of South Africa will remain in limbo until after the Indian board’s annual meeting on September 29, according to Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
Lorgat met with Sanjay Patel, his counterpart from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sanjay Patel, in Dubai on Monday night in an attempt to resolve concerns about the tour, scheduled to start on November 18.
Although due to include three Test matches, seven one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals, doubts have been raised about the tour, with India having made arrangements for an incoming tour by the West Indies and a tour of New Zealand which clash with the beginning and end of the fixtures published by South Africa.
Although thanking Patel for a “constructive” meeting, Lorgat said in a statement: “After listening to Sanjay, it is clear that we will now have to wait for the BCCI’s AGM to be completed before any tour schedule can be confirmed. It is key for all of us to make sure that the good relationship between our respective boards is maintained and, in fact, strengthened and that we also honour the proud history between our two countries.”
Lorgat added that there had been discussions between the presidents of the two boards. “We will now arrange for them to meet soon after the BCCI AGM,” he said.
The appointment of Lorgat is believed to have upset key members of the BCCI because of differences which arose while Lorgat was chief executive of the International Cricket Council.
The CSA statement said no further comments would be made about the tour until after the BCCI meeting.
Meanwhile, Australia batsman Shaun Marsh has been ruled out of playing for the Perth Scorchers in the upcoming Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India, Cricket Australia announced yesterday.
Marsh will return to Australia after suffering a right hamstring strain during England’s three-wicket win in the fourth one-day international in Cardiff on Saturday.
The injury saw the 30-year-old Marsh, son of former Test opener Geoff Marsh, miss Australia’s 49-run victory over England in Monday’s fifth one-day international in their tour finale in Southampton, a victory that gave them a 2-1 series win.
After that match, Cricket Australia team doctor Peter Brukner said in a CA statement: “Shaun sustained a right hamstring muscle strain in the fourth ODI in Cardiff and today (Monday) had an MRI scan which confirmed the diagnosis. AFP
