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'Either a full team, or none!'

Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh asserted yet again that the IOA would only accept the best cricket team for the Commonwealth Games, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from September 11 to 21.

''Either the best will go or else we will not forward the names,'' thundered Randhir Singh, in the midst of speculation regarding the composition of the Indian team for the Games, the dates for which coincide with the five-match Sahara Cup between India and Pakistan to be held in Toronto (Canada) from September 12 to 20.

Singh was releasing the list of participants for the Commonwealth Games.

It did not include the cricket team, for which the BCCI is yet to furnish the names.

The IOA secretary general also cast a doubt on the cricket team's participation in the Games in view of the delay in team selection. ''We have already sent a fax message to the organising committee to excuse us for the delay,'' he said.

For delaying the entry, the IOA will have to make a special plea to the organising committee for the Games. ''Penalties might be imposed on us for not sending the team, but we will not send a second-string team,'' he said.

India is placed with Australia, Antigua and Canada in group 'B' for the Games. ''Since Australia is sending the best team and only one team from each of the four groups will qualify for the semifinals, India has to send the strongest team to be in the medal-reckoning,'' Singh reasoned.

Regarding reports of the BCCI selecting an India 'A' team for the Games, he categorically said the selection had to be on the basis of the criteria laid down by the IOA, apparently referring to the medal prospects of a team. He clarified that the selection per se was the prerogative of the BCCI, but added, ''We in the IOA know how to judge a team''.

The IOA had written to the BCCI on June 26 for the list of players to be sent by July 15. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi had again written to the BCCI on July 28 to expedite the process.

Singh expressed surprise over BCCI secretary J Y Lele saying that the team for the Games would be announced on September 4. Though the Games begin on September 11, cricket is scheduled from September 9. IOA wanted the names by August 11, the last date for sending entries by names. ''We had to send the list without any names for the cricket team,'' Singh said.

The Commonwealth Games rules are apparently silent on the deadlines for sending entries for team events. Article 27 relating to 'entries' specifies that individual entries have to be forwarded to the organising committee at least 30 days before the date of the opening of the games. However, the article has a provision of acceptance of late entries with the approval of the federation court of appeal.

Singh said BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur had assured him that India would field the best team possible in the games.

Meanwhile, conflicting views kept on pouring in from the BCCI mandarins regarding the composition of the teams for the games as well as the Sahara Cup.