With the ticklish question of playing cricket against Pakistan yet to be sorted out, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday said it was "not necessarily keen" to host the ICC KnockOut Tournament next year.

"We have asked the ICC (International Cricket Council) to come out with the details," Board Secretary Jaywant Lele told reporters in New Delhi today.

After a visit to the North Zone Cricket Academy here, Lele said "we don't know the terms and conditions, particularly revenue sharing, offered to Bangladesh and Kenya for hosting the previous editions. This whole matter will be discussed at ICC's annual meeting in London in June. Till then we are not necessarily keen to host the tournament".

While Lele did not mention the issue of Pakistan's participation, Sports Minister Uma Bharti is on record saying that the ban on playing cricket was on bilateral series between India and its neighbour and there was no hitch about participating in multi-lateral tournaments.

Bharti had also assured full support, including tax exemption for the tournament when ICC President Malcolm Speed met her in New Delhi last month.

India had hosted the 1987 World Cup jointly with Pakistan and Sri Lanka joined these two countries for co-hosting the 1996 edition.

Weatherwise too, Lele said September, when the tournament is proposed to be held, would not be a suitable time of the year as it would be raining all over the country except, maybe, in Chennai and Bangalore.

The BCCI secretary confirmed that India would be going to Australia in September this year to participate in a three-match one-day series against that country. The first two matches, to be played on September 14 and 16, would be indoors in Melbourne while the final game on September 18, would be outdoors in Brisbane. "The arrangement for the series is on a reciprocal basis and in return, Australia will play three one-dayers in India next year," Lele said.

After inspecting the facilities offered to the trainees at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, Lele said he was happy and satisfied with the way the National Cricket Academy and its zonal branches were functioning. "I have visited all except the East Zone Academy which is being visited by Board consultant Geoff Marsh of Australia in a day or two," he said.

Asked about reports from Australia that its players Adam Gilchrist and Colin Miller and coach John Buchanan had received anonymous phone calls during the third and final Test against India at Chennai in March, Lele retorted "Ask them. Who knows who rang them up? Was it an Indian or an Australian? BCCI does not come into the picture".

The Indian Board has since treated the matter as closed.

© PTI