MPCA chief: 'We are preparing for Indore Test as usual'

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association is gearing up to host its first ever Test next week despite confusion over BCCI's disbursement of funds to State units following the freezing of the board's bank account and Anurag Thakur's comments.

The Holkar stadium will host a Test for the first time in its history.

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) is going ahead with preparations for conducting the third and final Test between India and New Zealand at its Holkar Stadium in Indore from October 8-12, a top official of the state body said on Tuesday.

"We have not received any intimation from the BCCI till now and are going ahead with our preparations," MPCA's honorary secretary, Milind Kanmadikar, told PTI from Indore.

> Read: Thakur laments 'interference in everything' by Lodha committee

Doubts had arisen over the conduct of the game after the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R. M. Lodha Committee had stopped disbursement of large sums of money to the various State units by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after it decided on this course of action at the emergent working committee meeting here on September 30.

> Read: Lodha clarified after BCCI threatens to call off NZ series

Reacting to the Lodha committee's instructions to its bankers, BCCI president, Anurag Thakur, on Tuesday said, "Most State units are unsure how they will be able to host games in this home season. They need to decide whether they can host the games or not, with or without money."

Kanmadikar, to a query, said that MPCA has already spent some money to conduct the game but has not yet asked for reimbursement, which was also subject to some upper limit, from the Board.

'Cannot act on reports'

Meanwhile, MPCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rohit Pandit told reporters in Indore, "We have not received official words from BCCI) yet that the final Test between Indian and New Zealand has been stopped. We got information from media reports," Pandit said to a query regarding the BCCI's threat.

"But cannot act on such reports. We are going ahead as schedule given that BCCI had asked us to shoulder the responsibility," he added. "We are putting extra labour for the match given the moist weather conditions and drizzle since a week," Pandit added.

Hundred staffers have been deputed to cover the ground in case of rain. Besides, we have machinery to dry the field and drain out water from the ground, the MPCA CEO informed. "We have not asked BCCI for reimbursement. The reimbursement will come (later)," said Kanmadikar.

Incidentally, the scheduled Test will be the first-ever to be conducted at Indore, which has a strong tradition in the game and was the home venue for the strong Holkar team of yesteryears.

Stalwarts such as Col. C. K. Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali were playing for the Holkar team, which won the Ranji Trophy on four occasions in the past under Nayudu's leadership, before it became MPCA.