M A I N   N E W S

SAS Nagar next battleground
Sehwag’s eligibility “burning issue”

London, November 24
England’s first Test match against India at Mohali next week may become the next “battleground” in the current row between Indian cricket authorities and the International Cricket Council (ICC) with eligibility of batsman Virendra Sehwag set to become a “burning issue”, according to British media reports.

Speculating that England’s ongoing tour of India was increasingly under threat, the reports said there was a need for “diplomacy” both from BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya and England Cricket Board chief Tim Lamb if the fallout from the “extraordinary affair” is not to continue festering during the India-England Test series.

“The immediate problem is to resolve the position of Sehwag, dropped from the match in the ongoing third ‘Test’ between India and South Africa in Centurion after being banned by match referee Mike Denness,” wrote ‘The Times’ Chief Cricket Correspondent Christopher Martin-Jenkins.

“This might be seen as a first sign of conciliation by the BCCI,” he said.

The ‘Guardian’ newspaper said the “fall guy” in the potential storm brewing between India and England would be Sehwag whose eligibility for the Mohali Test will become a “burning issue”.

It said the description of “anarchy” given by Lord MacLaurin, Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, for the controversy surrounding the third “Test” between India and South Africa opened up the possibility that England might yet pull out of their current tour.

MacLaurin refused to discuss such a prospect, saying he would see “how the situation developed” but did not rule out the possibility.

Sehwag, who was left out by India, will have his ban carried over to the Mohali Test since ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed ruled the Centurion Test as “invalid”.

India’s contention is that the Centurion “Test” is legitimate and that Sehwag is available for the first Test against England.

“England’s first Test against India in Mohali early next month may become the next battleground in the power struggle between BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya and the ICC for lasting control of a game facing major schisms”, the Guardian said. PTI