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Mohinder Amarnath benefit match hangs in balance

14 November 1996


The Mohinder Amarnath benefit match - a one-day tie between India and South Africa scheduled to be held at the Wankhede Stadium on December 14 - looks a non-starter.

Mumbai Cricket Association secretary A R Kudroli said that Amarnath had ``failed to make any contract with us for staging the match and therefore, we find ourselves in a position of not being able to hold the fixture as scheduled.''

Initially, the game was given to Amarnath to organise on his own. The Board of Control for Cricket in India however later decided that the fixture would have official status as a recognised one day international, and would not be just a slam-bang festival match.

Given this decision, it became impossible to permit an individual to organise the fixture, and the BCCI then gave the job of conducting it to the MCA which, for its part, was to enter into an agreement with Amarnath about sharing the proceeds and such.

``Following this, Amarnath has made no offer to us,'' Kudroli says. ``The basic idea was that the player would get the gate money and advertising proceeds, less expenses, but we haven't got anything pinned down. Our concern is that our expenses should be met - the MCA does not want to lose money on staging the game.''

Kudroli confirms that he had spoken to Amarnath earlier this month, during the Titan Cup final, and asked him to make an agreement regarding ticket and ad rates, sponsorships and such. ``There has been no response, and we for our part have warned BCCI that in this situation, it may not be possible to hold the match as scheduled. Time, meanwhile, is running out - the MCA has to pay the guarantee money of Rs 1.75 million to the BCCI before November 23, and we cannot do that unless a firm agreement with Amarnath is in place.''

Mohinder meanwhile is in Dubai, as part of the Star TV commentary team for the Champions Trophy one day tournament in Sharjah, and is expected to return only on November 17.


Source: Rediff On The NeT
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 14:55