India seek support on Twenty20 boycott

The Indian board has sought the support of other Asian boards to boycott the proposed ICC Twenty20 World Championship. It has already mustered the support of the Pakistan board.

"We are very clear that we will not participate in the Twenty20 championship and no one can force us to play," Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said on the sidelines of the fifth and final one-dayer between India and Pakistan at Karachi today."We have also sought support from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh."

The ICC's chief executive committee approved the event last week, although the decision still requires ratification by the executive board that will meet next month. Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, said Pakistan were also not keen to participate in the championship and would support India in the ICC meeting in March.

Khan said, "I have exchanged notes with my Indian counterparts and we both share the same views on the matter."

India and ICC are on a collision course not only with regards to the Twenty20 event but also on the concept of Champions Trophy. India will host this year's Champions Trophy but are not certain if they would participate in the 2008 edition for which six countries, including Pakistan, have submitted their bids.

Shah said the BCCI was still in discussion with the ICC on issues regarding the Champions Trophy but the decision on Twenty20 tournament had been made and communicated to the ICC.

"The reason is simple. This form of the cricket is not played in our part of the world. We don't need this version of the game because one-day cricket is already very popular. Nowadays one-day cricket is being played so much that countries struggle to strike the right balance. And they want to add this Twenty20 to its schedule because some countries are playing it. What I mean to say is that if any country starts Twentyfive25, will ICC hold a Twentyfive25 world championship," Shah queried.