IND v ENG 2016: ‘Chennai Test To Go Ahead As Planned’
Feb 10, 2019 at 3:05 PM
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has claimed it will host the fifth and final Test between India and England as scheduled despite the state being in deep mourning following the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The speculation around the Test had risen following the politician’s demise with the state declaring a week of mourning. However, the association said the week-long mourning will end four days before the Test starts and so there are ready to host the match.
Meanwhile, a Ranji Trophy match between Odisha and Jharkhand, which was supposed to take place in Dindigul from December 7, will be rescheduled. An U-19 match is also set to be rescheduled.
As quoted in Deccan Chronicle, TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan said: “The state mourning period (week-long) gets over December 12, while the Test starts only four days after that. We will host the match. We, however, informed BCCI that we won’t be able to host the Ranji Trophy game between Odisha and Jharkhand in Dindigul and an Under-19 match.”
“We are keeping a close watch on the situation and we are taking the inputs from the local host association as to what is the mood and sentiment of the people and based on what evolves, the final decision on the (Test) match will be taken. I just wanted to clarify that, because often (when) there is no clarity, there can be some speculation and such speculation can be often counter-productive and it might not, ever had been the intention of BCCI to take any such decision,” he added.
On the other hand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to wait for some time before taking a final decision on whether to shift the match or not.
BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said: “We are making it clear that BCCI has not taken any decision with regard to the Chennai Test match.”
He also said the board is ready with alternative venues in case the TNCA fails to host the match.
“As you know the BCCI has got number of venues, alternate venues where it can hold Test matches, and in fact there are new venues which are added and there is no paucity of venues for hosting a Test match,” he concluded.