India authorities bow to England pressure and shift Test venue

The England and Wales Cricket Board gotits wish, when India's cricket board agreed to move the Ahmedabad Test toMohali, for England's tour next year.

The ECB had sought the change of venue, citing logistical problems. However, the India authorities had been reluctant to shift the venue, which had been allotted the game under a rotation policy.

Agreement was achieved only when Ahmedabad was granted a Test match against Sri Lanka during a meeting of the Indian board.

England will now play Test matches in Mohali, Nagpur and Bombay during their tour of India, to take place in March and April 2006. The ECB had sought several changes in the originally proposed itinerary and the tour fixtures panel added New Delhi as a venue for a one-dayer. England's one-dayers will be played in New Delhi, Indore, Goa, Guwahati, Cochin, Faridabad and Jamshedpur.

The Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has recovered from his elbow injury and will be named in the squad for Saturday's one-day international against England.

Australia made short work of New Zealand in their first one-day international on Saturday, making 252 before dismissing their visitors for 105, Brett Lee finishing with the figures of 3 for 5.

India's first Test with Sri Lanka was called off yesterday for the third consecutive day due to overnight rain.