Hard bargaining on, says Dalmiya

The Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council are engaged in "hard bargaining" to resolve the ongoing crisis amidst indications that the proposed meeting in Kuala Lumpur might be unnecessary.

"Continuous discussions over phone are going on and talks are in an advanced stage," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said on Friday.

Asked to comment on an ICC spokesman's statement in London, that the Kuala Lumpur meeting might not be necessary, he said, "At this stage it is very difficult to say anything, but I have already made arrangements to travel to the Malaysian capital tonight."

Dalmiya, however, said "hard bargaining" is going on over telephone and conceded that there is possibility of a breakthrough without the Kuala Lumpur meeting.

Earlier the ICC spokesman had said in London, "The Kuala Lumpur meeting is unlikely at the moment, but still possible."

Dalmiya informed that his travel plans to reach Kuala Lumpur by Saturday have been finalised. If no breakthrough is achieved by Friday evening he will leave for the Malaysian capital around midnight, he added.

He, however, refused to divulge details about the nature of discussions going on between him and the two ICC bosses.

On Thursday, ICC president Malcolm Gray and chief executive Malcolm Speed had offered to have a "face to face" on Friday with Dalmiya at Kuala Lumpur, a neutral venue. Dalmiya promptly accepted the offer in line with his declared stand that he is ready to travel anywhere in the world to resolve the crisis.

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