BCCI misguided us, says Shetty

MUMBAI: The ongoing saga over whether the Indian players will play against Pakistan in the May 14 exhibition match in Abu Dhabi took a new twist on Monday. Both BR Shetty, the managing director and president of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Control Board (ADCCB) and secretary Ravi Pandit alleged that they were misguided by BCCI secretary SK Nair.
"We approached Nair in Rawalpindi and asked him about the possibility of the game. He said that the BCCI won’t entertain such a request only if we officially write to them. In fact, he said the request will be promptly cleared,’’ said Shetty. Pandit added: "Nair went to the extent of telling him that the players would be granted permission as Abu Dhabi wasn’t a banned venue." Pandit also claimed that some newcomers in the Indian team had already signed the contract with the ADCCB and he also had verbal assurance from the seniors.
When contacted in Thiruvananthapuram, Nair denied the “misguiding� role. "It is ridiculous. Yes, Pandit met me in Rawalpindi, and I had agreed to attend the inauguration of the stadium. But that was because of etiquette and the venue which has many Malyalis."
"I was to attend the inauguration. At no point was I aware that there is an India-Pakistan match being planned.�
The ADCCB officials are certainly in a fix at the moment. Secretary Pandit agreed that it will be a blow if India does not come.
Ban may be lifted from UAE: Shetty, though, saw a silver lining to the controversy. "It is very likely that the efforts of Sudhir Vyas, the Ambassador of Abu Dhabi, will convince the government of India to lift its ban from the Indian cricket team playing in UAE."