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India retains cricketing ties with Pakistan: Although at Under-17 age group

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February 6, 2001 

Dhaka-- (UNB) – The Indian stance not to have cricketing ties with Pakistan has been fluid in the case of age-group, as they have consented to participate in the coming Under-17 Asia Cup Cricket Championship, beginning on Feb 15 in Bangladesh.

“Indian board has confirmed about it and it’s a positive sign for the cricket of this region,” Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Saber Hossain Chowdhury told newsmen at a press briefing here today.

He said, “it bears a special significance for us as the two arch-rivals are going to play in the tournament.”

Ten Asian teams splitting into two groups will take part in the second version of the future cricketers tournament at different venues in the city and outside of it.

Group A: India, Sri Lanka, UAE, Malaysia and Oman. Group B: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nepal and Kuwait.

Host Bangladesh will take on Himalayan Kingdom Nepal in one of the opening day matches at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The other opening matches are: Sri Lanka vs Oman (BKSP 1), India vs UAE (BKSP 2) and Pakistan vs Kuwait (BUET).

Two top finishers from each group will meet in the semifinals scheduled for February 22 while the final on February 24 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

The organisers almost confirmed that the host team will play in the semi-final, which will be held at BNS, but the venues for the other semi-finals are yet to be confirmed. The board is trying to organise the matches in Rajshahi and Jessore.

BCB boss Saber said they hope that Bangladesh Television will telecast live minimum three matches-- inaugural match (Bangladesh vs Nepal), one semi-final and the final.

A total of 1.30 lakh US dollars has been allocated for the tournament to be held under a joint development programme of ICC and ACC.

International Cricket Council (ICC) granted 40,000 dollars while Asian Cricket Council (ACC) 50,000 dollars for the tournament. Grameen Phone earned the title sponsor right giving Tk 15,00000.

Event manager and joint secretary of BCB Mahmudul Haq Manu informed the newsmen that six foreign umpires are likely to conduct the matches with six local colleagues.

The local umpires are: Mesbahuddin Ahmed Reza, Manzurul Islam Manzu, Jahangir Alam, Sakawat Hossain Chinu, Ziaul Islam Masood and Afzalur Rahman Masum.

Match referees are: Raqibul Hasan, Rafiqul Alam, Dipu Roy Chowdhury, Tanjeen Ahsan Saad, Golam Faruk Suru and Ataul Haq Mallik.

Manu said cricket fans would able to watch the matches without gate money.

Former Indian all rounder Ravi Shashtri, now busy with TV commentary, will arrive here as an ICC convoy.

ICC development manager Andrew Ed, Asian development officer Nasimul Gani, ACC general secretary Zakir Hossain Syed, Tournament Director and Singapore cricket board official Anil Kalabar will also arrive here to oversee the tournament.

Fixture:

February 15: Sri Lanka vs Oman (BKSP 1), India vs UAE (BKSP 2), Pakistan vs Kuwait (BUET), Bangladesh vs Nepal (BNS).

February 16: India vs Malaysia (BKSP 1), Sri Lanka vs UAE (BUET), Bangladesh vs Singapore (Jaganath Hall, DU), Pakistan vs Nepal (BKSP 2).

February 17: Sri Lanka vs Malaysia (DCS), UAE vs Oman (Jaganath Hall, DU), Pakistan vs Singapore (BKSP 2), Kuwait vs Nepal (BUET).

February 19: India vs Oman (BKSP 1), Malaysia vs UAE (BUET), Bangladesh vs Kuwait (BKSP 2), Singapore vs Nepal (Jahangir Nagar University).

February 20: Sri Lanka vs India (BKSP 2/Jessore), Malaysia vs Oman (BUET), Singapore vs Kuwait (BKSP 1), Bangladesh vs Pakistan (Rajshahi/BNS).

February 22: Semi finals and February 24: Final (BNS).