Kolkata, Jan 08: The Cricket Board (BCCI) has decided to postpone the Challenger tournament, slated to be held here from January 18-21, till the end of the World Cup in South Africa. "It has been decided to put off the tournament in view of the World Cup in South Africa. It will now be held after the Cup is over," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said here on Tuesday.
The three-team annual tournament - played in a league format among India Seniors, India A and India B - was this year billed as the final warm-up event before the quadrennial showpiece in South Africa.
But with the Indian team members, now battling it out against New Zealand, getting very little time for rest and relaxation between the Kiwi trip and the Cup, it was decided to hold the tournament after the Feburary-March event, board sources said.
"Coach John Wright, physio Andrew Leipus and physical trainer Adrian Le Roux felt that the intervening period of two weeks between the New Zealand trip and the team's departure for South Africa, could be best utilised in rehabilitating the injured players," the sources said. The fresh dates for the tournament would be announced after the Cup. Bureau Report