India may lose hosting Champions Trophy

“We’ve agreed to wait until May for the Indian government to inform us about their decision. The board has voted to move the event to Pakistan in case the proposed tax concessions don’t come through,” he added.

Mani said the Pakistan Cricket board had assured the ICC that their government would offer a complete tax waiver.

The ICC has said in the past that it is in no position to give away a big percentage of its income to any government agency and so India will not be able to hold big cricket events, including the World Cup, unless the tax is removed.

India last hosted the World Cup, jointly with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in 1996. Some of the tax issues from that tournament have still not been resolved. “That’s one reason why we want to be absolutely clear right now,” Mani said. The ICC also announced the president’s term of office had been extended from two years to a three-year period. This means Mani, whose tenure was due to end in June, will be in office until mid-2006.

The ICC is also considering an extension to the five-year calendar for home and away Test series.

According to ICC rules, all Test teams should play at least one two-Test home and away series against every other side over a period of five years. “We had the option of shortening the current five-year programme, keep as it is or make it a six-year programme. The six-year programme is certainly the favourite at this point,” Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, said.

Dalmiya issued contempt notice for attending meet

: A city court today directed former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya to appear in court on March 21 for an alleged comtempt of court for attending an ICC meeting in New Delhi. The notice to Dalmiya, returnable on March 21, was issued on a petition filed by a city-based Thayagaraya Recreation Club, by city civil court judge Mohideen Pitchai. The court also issued a notice to BCCI secretary S K Nair to appear in court for the alleged contempt of court.