New India-CSA row

India's tour of South Africa ended last week, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India looks set to keep its foot firmly on Cricket SA's throat.

Reports say the BCCI will ask CSA to explain the presence of the latter's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, at matches during the tour.

That would seem to violate an October agreement between the two boards and the International Cricket Council that prevented Lorgat from doing parts of his job while India were in SA.

The tour was given the go-ahead by the BCCI only after the parties agreed that Lorgat's conduct relating to the tour would be investigated by an independent adjudicator appointed by the ICC.

The BCCI threatened to cancel the tour in the wake of CSA appointing Lorgat, who clashed repeatedly with the Indian heavyweights when he was ICC CEO.

"Pending the outcome of the adjudicator's inquiry, CSA will immediately withdraw Lorgat from: (a) representing it at the ICC chief executive's committee (or from acting in any other ICC-related matters); and (b) having any involvement in any aspect of CSA's relationship with the BCCI, including but not limited in respect of the upcoming India-SA tour," the agreement said.

Lorgat would seem to have broken those rules by attending India's matches. He was at both Tests and at least one of the three ODIs.

After the second Test, Lorgat was in the line-up of suits at the on-field presentation.

"Yes, it has been brought to our notice and we shall write a letter to the CSA and seek their explanation," website World Cricket Badger quoted BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel as saying with specific reference to Lorgat's appearance at the presentation.

"In the event that any of the terms above are not complied with, then the compliant party: (a) will be entitled to consider the agreement terminated with immediate effect . and (b) will be free to make whatever media comment it considers appropriate in respect of the matter," the agreement says.

The latter clause refers to part of the agreement in which the BCCI and CSA pledge not to talk to the media about the ICC probe.

Lorgat holds the shortest end of the stick: "CSA will procure that Lorgat will provide his written agreement not to make any media comment in respect of the investigation until the adjudicator has completed his investigation."

The ICC has not announced the findings of the probe, which is believed to be ongoing.

Despite that stipulation, Lorgat has been interviewed on the saga in the Indian press and on SA radio. He and other CSA officials did not respond to questions yesterday.