BCCI wants Test opener to be put off by a day

The Indian cricket board wants the first Test against England at Ahmedabad put off by a day to allow Mahendra Singh Dhoni play in the Champions T20 League final two days prior to it in case his team Chennai Super Kings make it to the title-contest.

"I can confirm that an approach has been made by the Indian board to put it off by a day, but no decision has been taken so far," England team's media manager Andrew Walpole said here on Monday.

Walpole said that the approach was made by the BCCI apparently to help Dhoni's case in the December 3-10 USD six million dollar prize money event jointly owned by the BCCI and its Australian and South African counterparts.

Walpole also indicated that the England and Wales Cricket Board was not likely to respond to BCCI request.

The Test opener is to be held from December 11 at Ahmedabad's Motera stadium a day after the Champions League final at Chennai.

The second and final Test the Platinum Jubilee encounter is to be played at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium from December 19-23 before the visiting team returns home in time for Christmas.

If the request is acceded to by the ECB and the England team, both the teams' players would get only two days' time between the two Tests.