It also stuck to its earlier stand that the list should only be sent through the IOA. It cannot be sent directly or through the International Cricket Council (ICC), IOA warned.

At a hurriedly-called press conference today, president Suresh Kalmadi quoted Article 27 of the Constitution of Commonwealth Games Association to specify that ``entries shall be accepted only by the Organising Committee and only from Commonwealth Games Association.''

He was reacting to the statement of BCCI secretary J Y Lele yesterday where he said that the Board had the sanction to send entries through the ICC and that IOA had nothing to dowith cricket. IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh clarified that he had spoken to officials of the Games organising committee regarding the cricket team's entry and they reiterated that only the IOA had the authority to send the entry and list of names. ``Every other nation has sent its entry through its Olympic association. There cannot be a separate rule for the BCCI,'' he said.

``We really don't know the motive behind the tough stand taken by BCCI in this regard. The last date for entries was August 11. We had reminded them through several letters but they did not respond. Now they say they'll pick the team on September 4. I am afraid it will be too late by then,'' he said.``It is a battle between money and medal,'' the president said, referring to the board's preference to send its best team to Toronto due to contractual obligations.

``BCCI wants disqualification so that they can send the best team for the Sahara Cup in Toronto. The way the Board is delaying in naming the team it looks certain thatthe entry may not be accepted by the organisers. That is probably what the BCCI wants," he said tongue-in-cheek.

"We want the best team to represent the country as we are grouped with Australia who are sending their best team." When asked what the IOA considered as the best team, Kalmadi quipped: ``Everyone knows what the best Indian team constitutes. Let us see where Sachin (Tendulkar) goes,'' he said.Kalmadi, however, acknowledged BCCI's autonomous status and stressed that the IOA will not interfere in the selection of the team. ``Even the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is not affiliated to us. But they will be going to the Games under the IOA banner. Why should cricket alone have a separate identity,'' he asked.