Financial problems averted in India as Test cash is released

In a familiar situation for those who have followed the fortunes of the Indian board of late, new reports surfaced on the eve of the first match of five in Rajkot that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might have to cancel the fixture if the court did not release sufficient funds to put it on.

But that scenario was avoided when the Supreme Court confirmed that 58.66 Lakhs (£71,000) would be made available from BCCI accounts to ensure the match went ahead.

According to reports in India, the court also confirmed that the remainder of the five-Test series and the following one-day and Twenty20 international series would be suitably financed, as well as the England team’s costs of touring.

Last week the BCCI wrote to the England team management to reveal that it was not in a position to commit to paying for the tourists’ “hotel, travel and various other arrangements”.

New Zealand’s trip to India earlier this winter was also the subject of such brinkmanship before their opening game, after which no match was either postponed or abandoned.

The situation again surfaced just 24 hours ahead of the England series, after BCCI lawyer Kapil Sibal was reported by NDTV to have told the court: “If funds are not released there won’t be a cricket match tomorrow, and it may be cancelled.”

Mohammad Amir is to join promoted Essex for the second half of the 2017 season.

The left-arm seamer, who has 140 international wickets to his name across all formats, will arrive following the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is being staged in England, and will be available from June 19 in both the County Championship and T20 Blast.

“I am very excited about becoming part of the Essex family,” said the Pakistan fast bowler, 24.