India’s South Africa tour still doubtful

India’s tour to South Africa at the end of this year is the most eagerly anticipated contest but the series between the top two Test sides continues to rank low on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s priority list. The proposed tour was not discussed at the board’s 84th AGM in Chennai on Sunday and the Board indicated on Thursday that if the tour does not materialise, many other countries are eager to play with India. “There are a number of people (countries) available. A number of countries are ready to play with India. There is no problem at all,” secretary Sanjay Patel said. BCCI and Cricket South Africa have been at loggerheads since the latter appointed Haroon Lorgat as its CEO. Lorgat had rubbed the powerful Indian board the wrong way during his tenure as the ICC chief. Patel added that CSA is to be blamed for the impasse as it did not consult the BCCI before finalising the series. “Things are going (on) since long. Certain things have to be put in right perspective. Let me inform you that the BCCI, under normal circumstances, would have done anything (for the tour to happen). But the protocol of finalising any series is a joint declaration. But that declaration was originally done without BCCI’s approval. So we are waiting.” BCCI content with sponsorship offer Despite only one bidder for the title sponsorship of international series and domestic tournaments for the 2013-14 season, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said that the board was happy with the price they got. “The deal is always market driven. One has to be happy with the market situation. Rather than concentrating on less or more price, we should concentrate on what you are getting as per the market situation. We are quite happy that as per the market situation, the price is not bad,” Patel said. “It is not attributed to any image (of the board). According to us there is no question of a bad image.” The new deal comes after Airtel’s three-year contract worth `3.33 crore expired in March. A three-month window was granted but with the telecom major showing no interest, the BCCI issued fresh tender documents in September. Sponsorship rights will extend to domestic events such as Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare, Deodhar Trophy and Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy.