BCCI-Indian Airlines tie-up

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Friday called on Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and presented him with three proposals for a tie-up between the BCCI and Indian Airlines.

After their meeting, Hussain announced that Indian Airlines would be the official carrier of the Indian cricket team on the domestic circuit and will offer 50 per cent concession to all players taking part in tournaments organised by the BCCI.

"During my meeting with the president of the BCCI, Mr Dalmiya, we agreed to give 50 per cent concession to all players who take part in tournaments organised by the BCCI. This would be a long-term arrangement, and the Indian team will be travelling by Indian Airlines in India. Which effectively means that Indian Airlines would be the offical carrier of the Indian team on the domestic circuit," Hussain said.

Dalmiya said the BCCI in turn would give preference to Indian Airlines hoardings on barter system during Test matches and one-days games.

"I will take up the matter with the board, that we should allow a team of Indian Airlines to participate in the Ranji Trophy and other tournaments. We have already agreed to let the Indian Airlines team play in the under-16 and under-19 tournaments," Dalmiya told newsmen.

Asked if he was happy with his settlement with the ICC, over the punishments handed down by match referee Mike Denness during in the second Test in South Africa, Dalmiya said the issue had been settled amicably.

"They have agreed to review the decisions of Mike Denness and put a system in place whereby the match referee could be held accountable for his actions. Now we want the ICC to remove the blot on Sachin Tendulkar, that he had tampered with the ball, particularly after Mike Denness has said that Tendulkar did not tamper with the ball," he said.

Asked if the Indian board has sought permission from the government regarding the triangular tournament to be played in Dhaka, Damliya said the board has no proposal to send a team to Dhaka.

"We are now preparing for the World Cup tournament to be held in 2003. So we cannot afford to participate in too many tournaments," he added.