BCCI to boycott ICC referees' panel

In yet another show of defiance, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday threatened to boycott the International Cricket Council-appointed three-member referees' panel, constituted to look into the Mike Denness controversy, if its suggestions are not accepted.

Annoucing this in Kolkata on Tuesday, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, said the BCCI has already offered two alternative suggestions to the parent body to break the impasse and is awaiting its response.

"Either the hearing of the commission is put on hold till the crucial meeting of the ICC Executive Board in mid-March or alternatively a new 10-member commission be constituted with each of the 10 Test playing countries nominating one representative," Dalmiya said.

"If these alternatives are still not acceptable to the ICC, the BCCI will be reluctantly compelled to refrain from participation in the Referees' Commission in any form or manner," Dalmiya said.

The ICC had last week rejected the BCCI's request to reconstitute the panel and set February 23 for its meeting.

The BCCI had earlier taken exception to the constitution of the panel, which has Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa as chairman and Majid Khan of Pakistan and Andrew Hilditch of Australia as the two members.

Asked if he is dissapointed with the ICC rejecting his request for a reconsitution of the panel, a peeved Dalmiya said, "The Indian sentiments were not respected."

Dalmiya, who had first defied the authority of the ICC when the controversy over Dennnes's punishment to six Indian cricketers erupted, however, ruled out the possibility of a split in the cricket world, saying "the ICC commands BCCI's respect as the parent body".

Dalmiya gave clear hints that he would like to settle the issue at the Executive Board meeting in Colombo so that a majority of the ICC members can take a final decision.

He said he was dissapointed at receiving the letter from ICC president Malcolm Gray informing him about the rejection of BCCI's request and he sent his reply with alternative suggestions to the ICC chief on Monday.

Justifying his latest stand, he said when there is no unanimity between the two parties it is better to put on hold the proceedings of the panel till the March meeting.

Otherwise, let each Test-playing country nominate one member for a 10-member commission, he said adding, "Since the ICC may not have the requisite budget for constitution of a bigger panel, BCCI has volunteered to meet the expenses for such a panel."

Mail Cricket Editor