C.A. thanks R.C.A., promises to reciprocate the goodwill

Melbourne, Sep 26 (PTI) Cricket Australia Friday thanked
the Rajasthan Cricket Association (R.C.A.) for the high
standard facilities provided and hospitality shown to the
Ricky Ponting-led team, camping in Jaipur for a week since
Monday.

"It is important for any touring cricket team to
acclimatise to the conditions before a big series and we're
grateful to the Rajasthan Cricket Association for the
hospitality they've extended to Australia and the high quality
of the facilities on offer at R.C.A.'s Academy in Jaipur,"
C.A.'s acting C.E.O. Michael Brown said in a statement.

Brown said the gesture would be reciprocated when India
next tour Down Under.

"We look forward to extending the same courtesies to
India when they next tour Australia as part of the successful
and ongoing bilateral relationship between Cricket Australia
and the B.C.C.I.," he said.

The Australians, who landed in India a week before the
official start of the tour, were provided with the top-quality
training facilities by the R.C.A. but Board of Control for
Cricket in India (B.C.C.I.) Chief Administrative Officer
Ratnakar Shetty had objected to it by saying they were
being obliged more than expected.

"We won't get this kind of facilities if India went
abroad. We would have got the bare minimum. R.C.A. is being a
little too obliging to the Australian team, they have done
more than what a host country will do," Shetty had said in
Mumbai.

B.C.C.I. Vice President Lalit Modi, however, defended the
R.C.A.

"I don't see anything wrong in it. This is a unique
year in that Australia had time on their hand with the
cancellation of the Champions Trophy. They wanted to get
acclimatised to our conditions and wickets and approached me
(as R.C.A. president) and I saw no reason to deny them." Modi
told a press conference in Mumbai Thursday.

Ponting and Co. will practice in Jaipur till Sunday. They
will fly to Hyderabad for a four-day practice match against
the B.C.C.I. President's XI starting October 2. The series
opener starts in Bangalore from October 9