India legally obliged to play four Tests: Lamb

India are legally obliged to play four Test matches in England next year despite an attempt to renegotiate the schedule, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb said.

Indian cricket head Jagmohan Dalmiya has said India will play the fourth Test at The Oval only if England agree to a sixth one-day international in India in January and a five-Test series when they return in 2005-6.

A report on the ECB's official website said the board had correspondence signed by the Indian board's former honorary secretary saying the dates and venues of next year's tour were acceptable.

"As far as we are concerned we have a binding commitment and most lawyers would tell you that if historical practice was that tours were confirmed by exchange of correspondence then that letter in which they say it is okay is a binding commitment," Lamb said.

"The letter in our possession is effectively a contract."

Mail Cricket Editor