India, Lanka ties running into bad weather

Mumbai: The Central Organising Committee meeting for World Cup 2011 has been postponed indefinitely following BCCI chief Sharad Pawar's inability to attend the meet. Although Sri Lankan Cricket cites official engagements as the reason for Pawar's unavailability, there is more than what meets the eye.

Pawar is reportedly "not happy" with the recent remarks by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Arjuna Ranatunga.

Ranatunga had publicly criticised the Indian board for not making "participation" fees to SLC for the Indian Premier League. The former World Cup winning captain of Lanka had also called the twenty20 tournament in India maggies and noodles.

His comments after India's debacle in the first Test in Colombo that the Indians played the five-day encounter as a twenty20 match did not go well with the BCCI. The relations between the two boards worsened after rebel ICL player Upul Chandana was invited to distribute prizes at the end of the second Test at Galle.

The postponed meeting which was scheduled for August 8 in Colombo, now may be shifted to some other country. Senior board officials from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were to discuss on organising the tournament, grounds and logistic arrangements.

While Pawar is the chairman of the committee, Sri Lanka's Sujeewa Rajapakse is treasurer. Also, senior Pakistan cricket administrator Salim Altaf's future as director for World Cup 2011 is in jeopardy after his relations with PCB were badly affected.