PCB Are Welcome To Raise The Matter At The ICC: BCCI Official On KPL Row

The tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the controversial Kashmir Premier League is heating up.

The issue reared its head on Saturday (July 31) when former Proteas cricketer Herschelle Gibbs took to his official Twitter account where he alleged that the BCCI int allowing him to come to India for cricket-related work due to his participation in the Kashmir Premier League.

Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20 . Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous ?

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) July 31, 2021

Later in the day, Pakistan Cricket Board released an official statement where it alleged that the BCCI is threatening member boards to not allow their retired cricketers to participate in the controversial league.

The PCB further said in its statement that BCCI’s actions are against the spirit of the game and that it would take up the matter at ICC forums.

PCB Statement

More details ⬇️ https://t.co/DYJ7a1qkh1

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) July 31, 2021

 

 

BCCI well within their rights’- unnamed official

Reacting to the development, an unnamed BCCI official was quoted as saying by ANI that while the veracity of claims made by Gibbs and PCB can’t be confirmed, even if it’s true, the BCCI is well within its rights to decide to take the decision with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in the country.

“While one can neither confirm or deny the veracity of the statement made by a former player who has figured in a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) investigation into match-fixing earlier, the PCB must understand that even if Gibbs’s statement is assumed to be true, the BCCI would be well within their rights to take decisions with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in India,” said the BCCI official as quoted by ANI.

The official further added that the PCB is welcome to take up the matter with the International Cricket Council.

He, however, asserted that the PCB must also ask themselves whether they are doing all this because of the government’s interference given the fact that the Prime Minister of Pakistan also happens to be the patron of the cricket board.

”The fact that the Indian cricketing ecosystem is the most sought after for cricketing opportunities globally, should not be envied by the PCB. They are welcome to raise the matter at the ICC and one can understand where this is coming from but the question that they need to ask themselves is whether it is on account of government interference in their working since the prime minister of Pakistan is officially their patron as per their own constitution. It is time to consider whether this issue also ought to be raised at the ICC.” he said.

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