Tax consultant for Team India in Australia

Mumbai, Dec 24 (UNI) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is sending a team inclusive of tax consultant P B Srinivasan to Australia to attend to the Indian player's tax problem on the current tour.

The other members of the team include BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah and board treasurer N Srinivasan.

Niranjan Shah speaking to UNI said that he would be leaving for Australia tonight where he would be joined by N Srinivasan and the tax consultant P B Srinivasan.

The issue of tax to be paid by our cricketers for the money they earn in Australia would be discussed with officials of Cricket Australia and we are confident the matter will be sorted out, Niranjan Shah said.

The problem has arisen due to the recent change in tax laws in Australia which make it mandatory for the visiting sports-persons to pay tax on money earned in the country.

The Indian players would be earning match fees for playing Tests and ODIs during the ongoing tour and according to media reports the tax burden collectively would be around USD 1.5 million.

The officials have been asked to deal with the problem by BCCI chief Sharad Pawar, who has also asked them to utilise the visit to honour Sourav Ganguly who is set to join the short list of 100-Test Indian club members when he turns out in the opening Test against Australia starting at the MCG on December 26.

Ganguly will be presented with a silver salver by the board, Shah said, adding he would also take the opportunity to discuss the Australians tour to India for a full-Test return series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the Cricket Australia (CA) officials.

The Australians are set to visit India in October, 2008 to play a four-Test rubber, having already taken part in a seven-match ODI series earlier this season.

UNI