With England scheduled to arrive in India for a tour of five Test matches in early 2021, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) sees it as an opportunity to make up for the indefinitely suspended ODI involving South Africa that it was due to host at the Eden Gardens in March this year.
CAB president Avishek Dalmiya told PTI on Sunday (August 16) that the body will be writing a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to please keep in mind that the association lost out on huge income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hence, should be awarded the hosting right to one of the Tests against England.
Kolkata and Lucknow were venues confirmed for the second and third ODI of the three-match series between India and South Africa, which saw its first game in Dharamshala washedout and the next two indefinitely suspended because of the viral outbreak that has since led to a global health crisis.
"We will request BCCI to plan the Test series (against England) in such a way that the two associations get compensated for the two abandoned matches,” Dalmiya said.
"We would be looking forward to the BCCI to negotiate with the England Cricket Board because they are the ones to tour India in early 2021, that’s the next home series."
A press release related to the postponement of England's visit to India for ODIs and T20Is from September hinted that the two countries' cricket boards are negotiating possibly elongating the tour in the January-March window instead of a split arrangement as it was to also include the limited-overs fixtures.
"We will send a request sympathetically to reimburse the expenses incurred for printing of match tickets, sale of tickets, getting the venue ready. The calculations are being worked out," said Dalmiya, also backing Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI president, to take over as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"It’s important that someone from India becomes the chairman. The global cricket is going through a difficult phase due to the pandemic. A strong ICC is the need of the hour in order to protect the game."
India is due to host the 2022 T20 World Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup successively, which, Dalmiya thinks, is something the Ganguly and the existing BCCI regime could play key role in conducting.
"I think that a strong leadership is the need of the hour. Along with the telecast right holders, the sponsors are one of the important stakeholders. So it’s very important that India plays a crucial role as far as the ICC is concerned."
“Then there are tax issues, which needs to be resolved between the ICC and the BCCI. I don’t know how or what the thoughts of the BCCI is. I’m sure that they would also be considering every aspect of it," he added.
