By IANS,
Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Wednesday denied a media report that the Indian High Commission had reported the touring Indian team to the external affairs ministry (MEA) in New Delhi for skipping its reception July 18.
In a press release, the BCCI stated that though the team did get an invite from the Indian High Commission in London for the reception, they had communicated their inability to attend as they had already committed to another function on the same day six months ago.
“The BCCI would like to make it clear that this story is baseless,” BCCI secretary Narayanaswamy Srinivasan said in a statement.
“The Indian High Commission had extended an invitation to the Indian team to attend a reception on July 18. However, the Indian cricket team had already committed itself to another function on the same day, six months in advance. The BCCI had accordingly communicated the same to the Indian High Commission, and suggested that the reception be organised on July 25 instead,” it said.
The board said the reception will now be arranged in August when the Indian team returns to London.
“The Indian High Commission authorities said that there were other engagements scheduled on July 25th. They also informed the BCCI that they would get in touch with the Indian team management after its arrival in the UK, and fix up a date for the reception. The BCCI agreed to this,” Srinivan said.
“Mr. Anirudh Chaudhry, the manager of the touring side, is in touch with the Indian High Commission officials and it is learnt that the reception may be organised in August, when the Indian team returns to London.”