BUCKNOR DROPPED

Steve Bucknor has been dropped as the umpire for the forthcoming test in Perth and this is a huge boost for the Indian cricket team.The Board of Control for Cricket in India said on Tuesday that the decision to drop Steve Bucknor from the third Test was taken after the ICC reviewed his performance in the controversial second Test at Sydney and not because the BCCI had put pressure on them.

"It (dropping an umpire) is the prerogative of the ICC. We had only requested the ICC to look into the matter. The ICC reviewd the performance and took an appropriate decision," BCCI president Sharad Pawar told reporters.

He also confirmed that the team had stayed back in Sydney because he had spoken to the team manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar and asked them to stay on there.

The BCCI working committee will meet this evening in New Delhi, he said, following which a final course of action will be communicated to the Indian team.

Earlier, BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla told reporters that the decision regarding replacing Bucknor and allowing Bhajji to play was "a victory for cricket".

"We welcome the decision by the ICC. We have no problems with Cricket Australia or with the Australian players," he added.

Shukla said the Board had "never said the team is coming back". A decision on when the team will leave Sydney will be taken after the BCCI working committe meets this evening.