Twenty20 format gets BCCI’s nod

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday ended its objections to Twenty20 cricket.

Despite earlier pronouncements against the shortest version of the game, which pits teams in a riot of run-making with just 20 overs allowed to each side, the BCCI has been forced to accede to the majority opinion in the International Cricket Council.

More significant is the BCCI agreeing to participate in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship scheduled to be held in South Africa in September 2007. The ICC had not compelled India to take part in the proposed 12-team event and had only insisted on its participation in the 2009 edition to be held in England.

“Now that we are playing, we do not want to be reluctant participants,” said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah. “A Twenty20 match will be part of future tours and a domestic tournament will be played in April-May next year.”

ICC rules restrict sides to a maximum of three home matches of the new format per season.