Hard bargaining on, says Dalmiya
The Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council are engaged in "hard
bargaining" to resolve the ongoing crisis amidst indications
that the proposed meeting in Kuala Lumpur might be
unnecessary.
"Continuous discussions over phone are going on and talks
are in an advanced stage," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said on Friday.
Asked to comment on an ICC spokesman's statement in London, that the Kuala Lumpur meeting might not be
necessary, he said, "At this stage it is very difficult to
say anything, but I have already made arrangements to travel
to the Malaysian capital tonight."
Dalmiya, however, said "hard bargaining" is going
on over telephone and conceded that there is possibility of
a breakthrough without the Kuala Lumpur meeting.
Earlier the ICC spokesman had said in London, "The Kuala
Lumpur meeting is unlikely at the moment, but still possible."
Dalmiya informed that his travel plans to reach Kuala Lumpur
by Saturday have been finalised. If no breakthrough
is achieved by Friday evening he will leave for the
Malaysian capital around midnight, he added.
He, however, refused to divulge details about the
nature of discussions going on between him and the two ICC
bosses.
On Thursday, ICC president Malcolm Gray and chief executive
Malcolm Speed had offered to have a "face to face" on Friday with Dalmiya at Kuala Lumpur, a neutral venue. Dalmiya promptly accepted the offer in line with his
declared stand that he is ready to travel anywhere in the
world to resolve the crisis.
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Mail Cricket Editor