Reports on itinerary anger Lele

NEW DELHI, January 9: Cricket Board secretary Jaywant Lele on Tuesday reacted with anger to reports which suggested BCCI had succumbed to the pressure tactics of its Australian counterpart and had agreed to revert to original itinerary of the Aussies tour of India.

Under pressure ever since the Australian Cricket Board Chief Executive Malcolm Speed made known his unhappiness over the changes in the venues of their keenly-awaited tour, Lele said BCCI had not bowed to anyone. ‘‘Nothing has been finalised as yet. Everything will be made known on January 22 (after the Board’s Working Committee meeting in New Delhi),’’ he told PTI over phone from Baroda. ‘‘It’s not anyone’s concern how we draw up the schedule,’’ Lele said, and on persistent queries about reports emnating from Australia, he asked in anger: ‘‘why do you believe the reports. Why don’t you believe the honorary secretary of BCCI.’’

The Australians were reportely irked over the last minute changes in the itinerary, with India wanting to cancel a three-day match so that the tour did not clash with Sharjah tri-series.