Kashmir match: BCCI says Army's apology won't do

New Delhi:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lashed out at the Indian Army on Tuesday, after the Services cricket team forfeited a Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite an apology from the Services team after angry reactions from the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), the BCCI reiterated its ban on the Army's team for this season.

The board said that an apology makes no difference, as the tournament's schedule cannot fit in another match in Srinagar.

Earlier, the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) had said that they had "apologised to the BCCI for the administrative slip-up in despatch of its team and requested them for fresh dates."

The apology came after BCCI banned Services from this year's Ranji Trophy cricket season, for skipping Tuesday's match in Srinagar citing security reasons.

JKCA chief Farooq Abdullah was livid at the Plate Division match's forfeiture; the Sher-E-Kashmir stadium was hosting a Ranji game after a gap of five years,

Abdullah threatened to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, saying Services had negated the Government of India's positive assessment of the state's security situation.

Jammu and Kashmir earned four points from this forfeited match and will now take on Haryana from November 10-13.