TNCA confident of hosting Chennai Test despite instability in state

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s sad demise has stirred up the atmosphere in the state. The awful news has put parts of the city on a standstill and everyday activity continues to stay interrupted. This scenario has put the authorities of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an uncalled situation and has been left to in the search for alternative arrangements for matches which were supposed to be hosted in the state in upcoming days. One of the important game scheduled in Chennai happens to be the fifth and the final test between India – England Test.

Chennai is slated host the Test from December 17 but the city has been on the boil since the news came out on Monday evening. The law and order situation in the city, state as well, is a point of concern for the state and central administration as much as for the authorities of the BCCI and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).

A Ranji match between Orissa and Jharkhand is slated to begin at Dindigul on Wednesday but the players from the two sides have been told not to venture out of the hotels. More about the Ranji game later. First about the Test match.

Mirror understand that BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Johri have spoken to TNCA bosses N Srinivasan and Kasi Viswanath. The word is that the TNCA has assured BCCI that there is no immediate cause for concern but BCCI is not leaving anything to chance.

Given the volatile nature of the situation, BCCI understands that it is difficult to predict a scenario before the Test match and it has not taken a decision to move the Test away from Chennai. “No such decision has been taken,” Shirke confirmed.

But it is learnt that the BCCI is looking to be ready with Plan B, should there be situation that forces them to move the Test out of Chennai. The Board has not yet finalised the alternative but it is learnt that Kolkata is a potential alternative.

A message has not yet been conveyed to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) but the BCCI authorities could look to Eden Gardens as an alternative, should push come to shove.

Meanwhile, the TNCA authorities have said it’s business as usual for them. “We have told the BCCI that we’re going ahead with our preparation. If the board is preparing Plan B, that is fine. They must be prepared for every eventuality but there is no change in schedule from our side as of now,” Kasi Viswanath told Mirror.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, the senior tournament committee of the BCCI will meet today to take a call on protests by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) against a decision to order a replay of a Group A match between Gujarat and Bengal who were supposed to play in Delhi from November 5 but could not because of fog.

But more than that game, deliberations are likely to take place over moving the Orissa-Jharkhand game from Dindigal which is slated to start on December 7.

Orissa Cricket Association (OCA), which is a part of the Gautam Roy-led senior tournament committee, wants the Dindigal game shifted. The OCA contends that teams cannot be allotted one point each – which is likely to happen to Bengal and Gujarat teams as the committee is expected to reverse the replay decision – because of the prevailing uncertainty in Tamil Nadu.

“We’re worried about the game. If it does not happen and we are allotted one point for the abandonment, we will not agree. Already our players have been told to stay indoors. There could be trouble in Tamil Nadu. So we will want a replay ordered,” said an OCA official.

Orissa (22 points currently) are just about three points away from booking a berth in the quarter-finals and first innings lead should ensure their progress into the knock-outs.

The meeting today is scheduled to take place at BCCI headquarters here at 1pm.