India Refuse Tour Agenda Change

India will not change the venues for the home series against England later this year despite complaints from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

India cricket chiefs said it was the hosts’ prerogative to pick the venues.

‘Our venues are always decided on the basis of a rotation policy,’ said secretary Niranjan Shah.

Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Mohali will not host a match, which led the ECB to declare: ‘Fans will not experience the great grounds of India.’
 
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to play the two Tests in December in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, while the seven preceding one-day matches would be played in Rajkot, Guwahati, Cuttack, Jamshedpur, Indore, Kanpur and Delhi.

Shah added that the BCCI was disappointed that the ECB had aired its grievances with the media.

‘We do not quite understand how and why the ECB has chosen to air its grievances over this policy in the media. Whenever the Indian team has toured England, some of the venues have not been up to the mark in terms of facilities for Indian players and supporters.

‘However, we have complied and gone ahead and played, for it is the host board’s prerogative to fix the itinerary.’

The tour has yet to receive the green light from England, who want security checks at the considered venues.

‘As far as the ECB are concerned the acceptance of the itinerary remains subject to acceptable logistical arrangements,’ said an ECB statement.

‘It is also subject to an acceptable security environment and security arrangements being in place at each of the venues.’
 
England will play two warm-up matches in Mumbai but BBC Sport understands that the city’s main stadium, Wankhede, is unlikely to be used.

England arrive in Mumbai on 6th November and begin their final match, the second Test, on 19th December.