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Our Bureau

BCCI'S BATTING PARTNER

New Delhi May 11 Team India cricket matches could soon be spared from the fury of the rain gods - at least in the subcontinent.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to take regular advise from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) before deciding on the match schedule for the Indian cricket team. For this, the two organisations are likely to enter into a long-term relationship to provide inputs on the likely weather situation in the subcontinent.

"The BCCI Chairman, Mr Sharad Pawar, has responded favourably to such a proposal sent by the IMD," the Minister for Earth Sciences, Mr Kapil Sibal, said here today.

He added, "While deciding on dates when Indian team would play in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan apart from India, BCCI could use IMD's advise so that less matches are affected by rain." Additionally, the weather inputs could also be used while deciding the strategy for the team. Even the match sponsors could get a fair idea on the length of play that could be possible on any particular day, industry observers say.

IMD's services may be fee-based. "The matter is yet to be firmed up," said Mr Sibal.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences had written to the BCCI providing inputs on the weather situation in Bangladesh during the one-day internationals and the test matches.

In its inputs, the weatherman has predicted that the One-Day International matches on May 12 and 15 may get slightly interrupted due to light rains while the two Test matches - May 18-22 at Chittagong and May 25-29 in Dhaka - may have major interruptions. For May 12-17, the IMD has forecast that even if it does not rain, the weather is expected to be warm and humid with high moisture content in the atmosphere - not conducive for bowlers, batsmen and fielders.

To provide more value added services, the Ministry plans to move a proposal before the Union Cabinet to modernise the systems at IMD with an expenditure of Rs 900 crore, Mr Sibal said.

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Weatherman may guide cricket schedules

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