Independence Cup schedule, revised

The inaugural game, pitting Pakistan and New Zealand, which will flag off the forthcoming Independence Cup tournament in India has now been rescheduled to Mohali, BCCI secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya announced in Calcutta on Monday.

The second game of the Cup, between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be played a day earlier than previously announced, in order to facilitate television coverage. Doordarshan authorities reportedly requested the bringing forward of the game, in order to facilitate smooth movement of TV cameras and crew.

Dalmiya, while making the announcement, said that the problems which had arisen between the Delhi and District Cricket Association and the Sports Authority of India regarding the Nehru Stadium could not be resolved, thereby necessitating a change in schedule. It also meant that the inaugural game was shifted from the Firozeshah Kotla in Delhi to the Mohali stadium, Dalmiya said.

The revised schedule runs as follows:

May 9, 1997: Pakistan versus New Zealand at Mohali
May 12: Pakistan versus Sri Lanka, Gwalior
May 14: India versus New Zealand, Bangalore
May 17: India versus Sri Lanka, Bombay
May 20: Sri Lanka versus New Zealand, Hyderabad
May 21: India versus Pakistan, Chennai
May 24: First final, Mohali
May 27: Second final, Calcutta
May 28: Third final, Calcutta (only if needed).