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BCCI confirms India will tour SA after Lorgat sidelined

Last updated on: October 22, 2013 12:40 IST

Having settled their differences with Cricket South Africa, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Tuesday that it will tour South Africa next month.

India will play a shortened tour, comprising two Tests and three One-Day Internationals.

"Following meetings in London over the past couple of days, CSA and the BCCI have today announced that the South Africa cricket team will play against India in an upcoming home series comprising two Test matches and three One Day International matches, the specific dates and details of which will be announced in due course," read a joint-statement from the the BCCI and CSA.

Importantly, the BCCI has agreed to make it up with CSA in future after the forthcoming tour was drastically reduced.

"In addition, both parties have also agreed to continue with good faith discussions between their respective presidents about the possibility of agreeing further bilateral arrangements in respect of the scheduled fixtures between the two teams, and taking into account any scheduling imbalances from previous years.

"The agreement to tour was concluded by the two boards after various concerns were raised around the recent ICC Board meeting in London about the alleged conduct of CSA’s Chief Executive, Mr Haroon Lorgat, and recent comments made about the ICC Board by a former legal advisor to CSA, Mr David Becker," the statement added.

It also said the International Cricket Council is considering legal options on Becker's statement against the BCCI which the latter believes was triggered by Lorgat.

"The ICC and CSA have already refuted the comments made by Mr Becker, and the ICC is now considering its legal options in respect of the same. In addition, the ICC will convene an investigation by an independent third party (to be appointed by the ICC) into the content and distribution of the media comments, subsequent attempts to have them withdrawn, and, in particular, the role of Mr Lorgat in relation to these matters.

"Pending the outcome of this investigation, CSA has ordered the withdrawal of Mr Lorgat from representing it at the ICC’s Chief Executive’s Committee (or from acting in any other ICC-related matters), and CSA has also withdrawn him from having involvement in any aspect of CSA’s relationship with the BCCI, including but not limited to the upcoming tour."

Harish Kotian