Chennai Test on track, says Tamil Nadu Cricket Association

Chennai: Despite the sensitive situation in the city following the death of Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association said the Test match between India and England scheduled to start from December 16 would go on as per plan.

TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan said: “The state mourning period (week-long) gets over December 12, while the Test starts only four days after that. We  will host the match. We, however, informed the BCCI that we won’t be able to host the Ranji Trophy game between Odisha and Jharkhand in Dindigul and an Under-19 match.”

The BCCI, meanwhile, has decided to “wait and watch” before deciding on a possible shift of venue. “We are making it clear that BCCI has not taken any decision with regard to the Chennai Test match,” BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement.

“We are keeping a close watch on the situation and we are taking the inputs from the local host association as to what is the mood and sentiment of the people and based on what evolves, the final decision on the (Test) match will be taken. I just wanted to clarify that, because often (when) there is no clarity, there can be some speculation and such speculation can be often counter-productive and it might not, ever had been the intention of BCCI to take any such decision,” he added. Chennai last hosted a Test match in 2013 when Australia toured India.