Ducking bouncers, PCB bowls wrong 146;un

Three weeks before what will be an emotional, tense series, the first flurry of bouncers has already started. The Pakistan Cricket Board, fa...

Three weeks before what will be an emotional, tense series, the first flurry of bouncers has already started. The Pakistan Cricket Board, facing heavy flak at home for conceding too many of India8217;s demands, today said the BCCI had broken a cricketing convention: announcing the much-awaited tour schedule, a matter usually left to the hosts.

PCB officials say the two Boards were to announce the schedule at the same time: BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya at 5 p.m. IST in Kolkata, PCB CEO Rameez Raja at 4-30 p.m. in Lahore.

Dalmiya8217;s press conference began at approximately 4-40 IST 8212; a breach of the verbal understanding, says the PCB, which then had to bring forward its own press conference. 8216;8216;We had agreed that we announce it at a promised time8217;8217;, Raja told The Indian Express. 8216;8216;But the BCCI gave out the details half-an-hour before us. I will certainly speak to Mr Dalmiya about it.8217;8217;

On his part, Dalmiya refused to be drawn into the issue, saying it was a controversy being created by the media.

However, the PCB8217;s argument has one flaw: journalists in India knew as early as Friday evening that Dalmiya would make his announcement at 4-30 p.m. IST the following day, and it is inconceivable Lahore wasn8217;t in the know.

What is more likely, say Pakistani journalists, is that the PCB underestimated the magnitude of the event. Agha Akbar Khan, sports editor of The Nation in Lahore, said he was forced to rush a reporter to the PCB office at Gaddafi Stadium because of the confusion.

8216;8216;The whole event was so hurriedly organised, that everything happened at the last minute. The PCB was not aware of Dalmiya8217;s announcements and when they got to know they sent out invites to one and all. Luckily one of my reporters was around and could attend the briefing.8217;8217;

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Indeed, Rameez8217;s statement could simply be a ploy to deflect growing criticism of the PCB8217;s conceding ground to the BCCI on almost every tour-related issue: choice of venues, sequence of Tests and ODIs, scrapping the 3-day tour match.

8216;8216;Dalmiya announcing the itinerary is a minor issue8217;8217;, says Khan. 8216;8216;But the whole thing gives me a feeling that that Indians want to show that they are in charge.8217;8217;

Others say that it8217;s basic economics 8212; and the willingness of the Pakistan Government 8212; that forced the PCB to agree to all the changes. 8216;8216;The PCB has seen crores of rupees in this tour so they will go to any extent to please the BCCI8217;8217;, said a senior journalist in Karachi.

What has raised most hackles is the exclusion of Karachi from among the Test venues. 8216;8216;Karachi is the hub of cricket. Most cricketers come out from the streets of Karachi. How can they not hold a Test here8217;8217;, said Amer Soherwadi, chief reporter with the Indus News Network.

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Veteran broadcaster Chishty Mujahid, who lives in Karachi, sought to put the security issue in perspective. 8216;8216;There was a fire in Lahore some days back, but no one paid any attention. If a similar thing were to happen in Karachi the whole thing would have been blown out of proportion.8217;8217;

Two things appear certain, though: One, that this isn8217;t the last 8220;controversy8221; before the tour begins. And two, when it does begin, the focus will be on the cricket.

As Zaheer Abbbas, who knows a thing or three about these contests, says: 8216;8216;The most important thing is, India is coming. All this will definitely blow over by the time the series starts. Take my word for it.8217;8217;