The fate of the International Cricket Council (ICC) KnockOut, continues to hang in the balance as the date for a final decision draws near. It was initially proposed that India host the tournament, one of the flagship competitions of the ICC, a veritable 'mini-World Cup'. For a host of reasons however, it seems more and more unlikely that the tournament will be played in India as planned.

Speaking to CricInfo from his office in Rajkot, Niranjan Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said, "It is very unlikely that we will be able to hold the tournament as first proposed. We have withdrawn from hosting the event, but there is still a small chance that we might be able host the event."

The BCCI had withdrawn from hosting the event because the Indian government had refused to give the board the tax breaks it required to conduct the event in a profitable manner. "We have written to the government asking for tax exemption, but have not heard from them. Without the tax exemption, the tournament is financially not viable to the BCCI," said Shah. He however re-iterated that the BCCI was keen to see the tournament progress as scheduled. "We have been in touch with the ICC too and I believe they have also approached the Indian government in connection with this matter," he explained.

The Indian government, however, does not seem at all receptive to the pleas of the Board. There is a growing feeling among the powers that be, that the world's richest national cricket board has already got all the breaks it needs. Understandably, Shah is not at all optimistic on the chances of the government doing a volte-face in this regard.

"I don't think the government will change its mind in time. With the date for the tournament fast approaching the ICC will have to take a decision on the matter soon," he began. "You see, we can't give the government any ultimatums. The board cannot tell the government to take a decision by such-and-such date," he said.

The secretary added, "The ICC is considering several alternatives, with Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Australia being the main contenders." Although he would not commit to a particular venue, Shah suggested that Sri Lanka were the front runners at the moment.

Apart from all the complications regarding tax exemptions, there have been serious security concerns surrounding a tour of India. With the situation at the India-Pakistan border escalating considerably, several teams have expressed reservations about playing in India and Pakistan.

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