NEW DELHI, 19 February 2005 — India would bid to host cricket’s World Cup in 2011 provided the sport’s showpiece one-day event was exempt from government tax, a leading official said yesterday.
“We are planning to host the World Cup in 2011 but we can go ahead only if we get the nod on tax exemption from the government,” said former Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) insists on a tax waiver for all major events and the Indian government’s tax-heavy policy has already created a hurdle for the country ahead of hosting next year’s Champions Trophy.
Dalmiya was speaking after a meeting in New Delhi with federal sports minister Sunil Dutt and ICC president Ehsan Mani focusing on tax exemption for the Champions Trophy, the mini-World Cup held every two years.
“The minister gave us a patient hearing and has promised to take up the matter with the concerned authorities,” said Dalmiya, also a former head of the ICC. The ICC hopes to get the Indian government’s reply before its executive board meeting in New Delhi on March 17-18.
The ICC’s tax waiver policy was not enforced when India co-hosted two World Cups in the past, in 1987 with Pakistan and in 1996 with both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The ICC last year warned that India, the world’s largest market for cricket, was not the place to hold major tournaments because of the government’s high tax rates. India, with millions of cricket-crazy viewers, has the largest television audience for the sport in the world.
Tendulkar Should Not Rush Into Pakistan Series, Says English Great Boycott
Prolific Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar should skip the upcoming high-profile cricket series against Pakistan if he is not fully fit, according to legendary England opener Geoff Boycott.
“My opinion is he should not be in a hurry,” Boycott told the Bombay-based ‘Mid-day’ newspaper yesterday. “Take your time Sachin, till you are fully fit’ is what I would tell him.”
Tendulkar, 31, has been in and out of the team since August due to a tennis elbow injury. He missed one-day tournaments in the Netherlands and England before returning for the last two home Tests against Australia in October.
