CBFS threatens to sue BCCI

Angered by India's refusal to participate in a three-nation tournament involving Pakistan and Sir Lanka, the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series, organisers of cricket tournaments in Sharjah, on Monday threatened legal action against the Board of Control for Cricket in India for breach of contract.

"We will consult our lawyers and concerned people to know how we can proceed after this breach of contract by India," CBFS chief executive Zahid Noorani was quoted in The Khaleej Times as saying.

India's three-year contract with the CBFS, to play in limited-overs tournaments, is to expire later this year.

Noorani downplayed the impact of the decision on the tournament which, he said, will be organised as usual.

"There will be no great impact on our long-term strategy as organisers of international cricket. We will continue to play cricket here in Sharjah with or without India," he said, adding: "Our contracts and international commitments are not affected and we will continue with cricket."

India, on Sunday, officially announced its decision not to send its team to the tournament in keeping with its policy of not playing Pakistan following the Kargil conflict in 1999. New Zealand will now replace India in the tournament, to be held from April 8 to 20.

Another key CBFS official, chief coordinator Asif Iqbal came down heavily on India's decision, saying it is based on rumours of match-fixing and involvement of the underworld, which are entirely unfounded.

"If reasons are not given and it has something to do with the rumours of the underworld, then there should not be any cricket in India. Because the allegations regarding match-fixing along with players' suspensions (that of Hansie Cronje or Mohammad Azharuddin) all are linked to Indian bookmakers," Iqbal told The Gulf News over phone from his London residence.

Iqbal also disagreed that Sharjah is a non-regular venue.

"Sharjah is a different venue from Singapore and Toronto," he said, and added that it was established as a regular off-shore centre.

The Indian government, in a statement on Sunday, had expressed reservations about its team playing at 'non-regular venues' like Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto for 'at least' three years.

"I think now the onus is on the Board of Control for Cricket in India. They should inform the Indian government what the CBFS has done for the cricketers, not only current but also those of the past."

The CBFS last night issued a statement regretting India's decision, which, it said, was 'discriminatory and unwarranted' and hoped it would be reversed in the 'very near future'.

"We regret that the Government of India has made this decision. CBFS would like to thank the BCCI for their support, and understand their impediment due to this unusual breach of contract forced upon them.

"We are confident that this discriminatory and unwarranted treatment to the Emirates Cricket Board will not be allowed to continue and the Government of India will reverse their decision in the very near future," the statement said, adding that New Zealand would replace India in the tournament which will go ahead as scheduled.

"Regardless, the Coca Cola Cup will be held as per schedule, with New Zealand replacing India as the third team, and cricket in Sharjah will flourish as usual," the statement added.

Mail Cricket Editor