BCCI to reconsider Deodhar Trophy's fate after Sena threats

Mumbai, July 4 : Stung by threats from the Shiv Sena, the Indian cricket board is contemplating to accommodate the Deodhar Trophy tournament in a cramped 2009-10 schedule.

Board of Control of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan said Saturday the fate of the Deodhar Trophy will be decided in the next working committee meeting.

The tournament didn't find a place in the 2009-10 schedule released by the BCCI's Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee Wednesday following which the Shiv Sena staged a demonstration in front of the Cricket Centre at the Wankhede Stadium against the dropping of the tournament.

Srinivasan told IANS that the tournament was never dropped.

Asked why the tournament was not mentioned in the schedule announced Wednesday, Srinivasan said: 'The BCCI press release is self explanatory and you can draw your own conclusion.'

Srinivasan's comments came after the Shiv Sena threatened that it won't allow any Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in the city if the tournament was cancelled.

'BCCI has planned IPL matches in Maharashtra at the cost of Deodhar Trophy tournament. The board has insulted Marathi pride by cancelling the tournament named after Prof D.B. Deodhar,' a Sena leader said.

--IANS