Preparations on for the third test between India-New Zealand Test: MPCA secretary

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) secretary Milind Kanmadikar on Wednesday had made a positive announcement saying that the state association is preparing for the upcoming 3rd Test between India and New Zealand despite not receiving any official word from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The third and final Test is scheduled to be hosted at the Holkar stadium here from October 8 and the hosts MPCA has decided to go ahead with their preparations despite BCCI’s earlier to call off the ongoing series due to the Lodha conflict.

“The match is on. We have made all the arrangements for it. The national cricket board has not given any direction for the cancellation of the match,” Kanmadikar told IANS.

Earlier, the BCCI had threatened to call off the ongoing series when the Lodha Panel decided to freeze the bank accounts of the BCCI. The Indian Cricket Board stated that they will be left with no option as freezing the account would totally cripple their functioning.

“We have no option other than to call off the India-New Zealand series as our banks have decided to freeze BCCI accounts. We don’t want India to be humiliated in front of the world. How can we function, how can we hold any games now? Who will make the payment? Freezing a bank account is no joke. An international team is here, and there is so much at stake,” the Indian Express quoted a BCCI official as saying.

Justice Lodha, later clarified that they have now decided to freeze the accounts of the cricket board. It said that the routine expenditure can be carried out as normal.

“We have not frozen the accounts of BCCI we have directed the BCCI to not disburse funds to the state association. Day to day affairs, routine expenditure, matches, games, that should go on. There is absolutely no prohibition.”