The second tsunami relief match between a Rest of World and Asian eleven, scheduled to be held in Kolkata on Feburary 13, has been postponed to the second half of April due to non-availablity of the best players from Australia and New Zealand.
Asian Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya said the decision to postpone the match was taken as per the International Cricket Council's directive.
The ICC had earlier assured the Asian body that the Rest of the World XI would comprise all the top players who did duty in the first tsunami relief match at Melbourne on January 10, he said.
"The ICC, however, informed us today that with Australia's series against New Zealand about to begin, the leading players of the two countries would not be available," he said.
"Under the circumstances, there were two alternatives -- either to go ahead with the match on Feburary 13 without the best players or to postpone the match," Dalmiya said.
"The first alternative was not acceptable since the cricket lovers, the donors, sponsors and everyone else concerned would be deprived of seeing the best players in action. Therefore, the ICC directed that the 'cricket for humanity' match be postponed until the second half of April," Dalmiya said.
He the matter would be taken up for discussion during an emergency meeting of the ACC, to be held in Dubai on January 31.
Looking dejected over the sudden development, the ACC chief said, "Something must have gone wrong somewhere, but not from our end. We did whatever could be done."
An ICC statement, distributed at the media conference, said that the match would be played at the Eden Gardens.
The fresh date for the match would be decided after finalising the itinerary of India's home series against Pakistan, Dalmiya said.
Explaining the reasons for the postponement, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in the statement that, "on reviewing the proposed date of February 13, it became apparent that there were serious work-load issues for many of the players who have indicated a desire to play the match.
"At that time, England will still be in South Africa and Australia's series against New Zealand will be about to begin.
"There is never an easy time to fit in an additional match, but this fund-raising initiative is very important to us all. The match will still be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata," the statement quoted Speed as saying.
The ICC said it recognised that ACC's plan to stage the match was in an advanced stage and postponement at such short notice would cause considerable inconvenience to all concerned.
"I thank the ACC, the players and the representatives, the host venue and all other parties involved for supporting this decision. I look forward to another compelling match and more valuable fund raising in the second half of April," Speed said.
Dalmiya said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already been apprised of the postponement.
"We have requested the cricket boards of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to inform their respective governments," he added.
Soon after receiving the communication, the ACC chief spoke to the director of the Asian body.
"Representatives from Asia will definitely be raising the issue at the ICC executive board meeting," he said.
Asked whether it was pragmatic to push the match to as late as the second half of April as public interest for the cause could be on the wane by then, Dalmiya said, "I cannot answer this question without consulting the ACC executive board."
To a question, Dalmiya said that he did not think that the decision was a reflection of the ICC's 'step-motherly treatment' towards the ACC.
"The goodwill of all concerned is of utmost importance to conduct a match for such a cause. The ICC has assured that the world's best players will be available for the initiative on the rescheduled date," he added.
