Few issues on Champions Trophy still to be sorted out with BCCI: Man

Margao, Apr 2 (UNI) International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani today said that though a couple of issues were still to be sorted out with the Indian cricket board, they were moving in the right direction.

Mani also announced the groupings for the main tournament with India being placed in Group 'A' along with Australia, England and a qualifier while Group 'B' will have Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa and the second qualifier.

Addressing a press conference here this evening, the ICC chief said that the two issues sill to be sorted out were the number of tickets available to the ICC members and the holding of the tournament at four venues.

''When the Champions Trophy was conceptualised, we had decided that it would be a short tournament to be held at a maximum of three venues to cut the holding costs for the ICC,'' Mani said.

The ICC chief pointed out that the Champions Trophy was a very important tournament for them as the money generated from this would go directly into the development of the game in the associate member countries.

''So far since 2000 we have been able to invest 100 million dollars from this tournament into the associate member countries,'' he pointed out.

The ICC top honcho further said that the Indian cricket board at the moment has decided to pay for the fourth venue, but with talks still on he said he could see the tourney being held at three venues.

The four venues proposed by the BCCI are the CCI in Mumbai, Jaipur, Mohali and Ahmedabad.

Mani said Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies and Zimbabwe will play the qualifying rounds beginning on October 7 out of which two would proceed to the main tournament.

The ICC chief also announced that the future editions of the Champions Trophy will be played among the top eight ranking teams in the ICC table and will take place over a 16-day period.

He added that India would be hosting all the 10 main members of the ICC after a gap of 10 years.

The Indian board has managed to solve the tax regime here with the government and this would be a great tournament, he added.

Mani said he was not in the know of any country resting some of their top players in this tournament, but said if this happens he will be extremely disappointed.

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