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We'll extend IPL participation only if India confirms South Africa tour: Lorgat

by K Shriniwas Rao • Last updated on

Lorgat took a defiant stand and decided not to extend the window for South African cricketers playing in the ongoing IPL tournament © Getty

Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), wrote a letter to Rahul Johri, the CEO at Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), "requesting" the latter to confirm India's tour of South Africa starting with the Boxing Day Test later this year, following which he would agree to South African cricketers continuing to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Johri confirmed receiving the communication from Lorgat and added that he had chosen to "ignore" the request. "I didn't even bother to communicate. We will communicate when the time is right," Johri told TOI.

In what seems to be a clear case of CSA trying to arm-twist the BCCI by "dangling the carrot" of IPL participation, Lorgat took a defiant stand and decided not to extend the window for South African cricketers playing in the IPL. The deadline for South Africans partaking in the IPL 2017 came to an end on May 8, following which they have now left their respective franchises.

The South African cricket board, which voted against the BCCI at the recent Board meeting of the ICC in both finance and governance policy changes, expects India to also support their proposed Global Destination T20 League for which a window is yet to be created. South Africa expects the league to be played in the month of November while India is already in a fix trying to confirm its own home season going forward, especially in the wake of ICC developments.

CSA, for the record, expects India to make the tour of South Africa in December this year, keeping the Boxing Day Test in mind whereas the BCCI hasn't confirmed anything yet. Sources in the know of things say "India could tour South Africa starting January".

CSA's stand on matters involving India, say industry sources, is clearly "an unfair one" and comes in the wake of a "weak" Indian board not being able to assert itself in the ICC.

© TNN

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